The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Clijsters to play French Open

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Wednesday, May 05, 2004

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Sport - Tennis

Clijsters to play French Open

BERLIN, MAY 4 World number two Kim Clijsters will play in the French Open but has limited ambitions at the tournament because she is hampered by a wrist problem.

Belgian Clijsters is making her return to WTA tour action at this week's German Open after missing the last seven weeks with an injury to her left wrist.

She resumed playing late last month in a Fed Cup tie but has to wear a brace and cannot play her best tennis.

``I'll play the French and we will see what I can do but I'll play with the brace and that will definitely be restricting me,'' said the 20-year-old.

Clijsters, who lost to compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne in last year's final of the Paris Grand Slam, feared at one stage that she might have to miss the highlight of the claycourt season, from May 24.

World number one Henin-Hardenne is not in Berlin because of a viral infection that has raised doubts as to whether she will be able to defend her French Open crown.

Clijsters, the top seed in Berlin, said she was happy to be playing again but not being able to use her backhand to the full on the demanding slow surface was a handicap.

``I cannot put as much spin on my backhand as I want and that's a problem,'' she said. ``I guess clay court is not the best surface to come back on because you need a lot of spin but I have to be careful. I must not overuse my backhand.''

``The focus is on Wimbledon,'' she said. ``That's where I believe I will be able to play my best tennis.'' — Reuters

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