Two-time losing French Open finalist Kim Clijsters is facing a race against time to be fit to compete at Roland Garros in six weeks time. The Australian Open champion has been out of action over the past month with both shoulder and wrist problems, but was due to begin her preparations for the second grand slam of the season over the next couple of weeks. Not since the end of March has Clijsters been able to play due to injuries and that match ended in defeat to Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Those looking at the French Open 2011 betting odds shouldn’t expect her to take to the court.
Those plans have now been put on ice, much like the Belgian’s ankle, after she suffered a pretty serious injury in mysterious circumstances at her cousin’s wedding. While the details of the incident have been kept quiet what has been revealed is the damage her ankle has sustained.
A statement on the world number two’s website said: “Kim’s presence in Paris is very uncertain. Her ankle is completely immobilised. She has a severe strain of both the medial and lateral ligaments of the right ankle and torn ligaments, a torn capsule of the ankle joint, a hematoma and torn tendon sheath.”
With just over a month before the French Open this injury will be a major blow to the 27-year-old’s hopes of finally ending her Roland Garros hoodoo and the women’s French Open betting reflects this. This is the only grand slam that Clijsters hasn’t won so far in her career, three of her last four coming since the Belgian made her return from retirement. After picking up two grand slams in succession, Clijsters would have gone into the French Open as possibly the stand-out favourite. Even if she does recover from her latest setback it would be a major ask for her to perform at her best with no preparation under her belt.
