Clijsters out at least two months with ankle injury
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-27 10:24

New No. 1 Kim Clijsters will be sidelined at least two months after tearing a ligament in her right ankle in the Australian Open semifinals Thursday.

"Bad news about my ankle after the scan — torn anterior ligament," Clijsters wrote on her website.

The reigning U.S. Open champion said she already had pulled out of tournaments over the coming weeks, adding: "It's going to be a complex recovery."

Clijsters left Melbourne Park in a wheelchair after being forced to quit because of the injury during her Australian Open semifinal against Amelie Mauresmo in the third set.

"I twisted the ankle trying to position myself to hit a backhand," Clijsters wrote. "I immediately felt something wasn't right."

The Belgian already had assured herself of overtaking Lindsay Davenport for the top spot in the WTA Tour rankings by beating Martina Hingis in the quarterfinals in Australia.

Kim Clijsters of Belgium has her ankle taped by a trainer during her match against Amelie Mauresmo of France at the Australian Open in Melbourne, January 26, 2006. [Reuters]

Kim Clijsters of Belgium addresses a news conference following her match against Amelie Mauresmo of France at the Australian Open in Melbourne, January 26, 2006. [Reuters]