ROME (AP) — Kim Clijsters has withdrawn from the Italian Open as she recovers from an injured ankle, putting her readiness for the French Open in doubt.
The Rome tournament starts Sunday and is an important warmup for the season’s second Grand Slam, which begins May 22.
The second-ranked Clijsters hurt herself at a wedding party last month. She hasn’t played since losing to Victoria Azarenka in the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals in Florida in March.
Third-ranked Vera Zvonareva did not enter the Rome tournament, and No. 16 Venus Williams has also withdrawn with a hip injury that has kept her out since January.
Serena Williams, who has been out since July after two foot operations, then blood clots in her lung, is also expected to withdraw.
