[DannerCal]

From Yahoo sports

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Kim Clijsters' sprained ankle could force her to miss next week's tournament in Filderstadt, Germany, an event where Justine Henin-Hardenne can overtake her for the No. 1 ranking.

Clijsters will play with a taped ankle for the rest of the season, she said on her Web site Monday. She sprained her right ankle at the Sparkassen Cup in Leipzig, Germany, and quit during Saturday's semifinal against Anastasia Myskina.

If Clijsters does not play in Filderstadt, Belgian countrywoman Henin-Hardenne could become No. 1 by reaching the final. Clijsters won in Filderstadt last year.


Clijsters needs to rest several more days before resuming light training.

``A new assessment will then have to show how bad the injury is,'' she said. ``I can only hope my participation in the Filderstadt tournament is not in danger.''

Clijsters leads the WTA rankings with 6,579 points, with Henin-Hardenne at 6,291. Henin-Hardenne could become the third No. 1 this season, after Serena Williams yielded the top spot to Clijsters because of knee surgery in August.

Clijsters is the first No. 1 player without a Grand Slam title. Henin-Hardenne won this year's French Open and U.S. Open.

 

[Knizzle]

Kim better hope Venus plays and is on Juju's side, and then pray that Venus is in shape to beat Juju.

 

[AjdeNate!]

I hope her injury is ok and she's able to finish the season. There's been toooooo many injuries.

 

[Ting]

Hope she gets well soon!!!

 

[fleemke³]

Well I hope Justine will be number one soon but I hope she can do it with Kim in the draws. I hope she gets well soon

 

[TennisHack]

Henin-Hardenne could become the third No. 1 this season, after Serena Williams yielded the top spot to Clijsters because of knee surgery in August.

How interesting that the #1 will be ceded once again on the back of an injury. What does that say about the women's tour?

 

[joao]

How interesting that the #1 will be ceded once again on the back of an injury. What does that say about the women's tour?

i don't know ... maybe that players should take the fall off ...

 

[KoOlMaNsEaN]

Resting, pfff 29-09-2003

What a dissapointment. Never could imagine such a stupid injury could ruin so many things. A week of rest should do the trick.

It all started the day before already. I came down the stairs and strained my ankle slightly on the last step. I didn't have that much pain and didn't think much about it. Until that one spread I even had forgotten about that ankle. I felt something snap and immediately realised something was not right. Pity, because I really enjoyed my match against Anastacia, for she was playing very well and the result could have gone either way.

After the match my ankle got examined in the nearby hospital. The conclusion was - and I quote the doctor: a dislocation of the ligaments at the inner side of the right ankle. Rather a mouthful. A week of resting should do the trick.

I now leave for Belgium, to revalidate. The first few days I have to rest as much as possible, lie down, and after that I can start doing light exercises to strengthern the ankle again. A new examination should tell me how bad the injury actually is. I sure hope I won't have to cancel the Filderstadt tournament, for I have a title to defend over there.

As a precaution I am now bound to play the rest of the season with a tape around my ankle. Should I have the same experience again, consequences might be a lot bigger.

From Kim Clijsters' Diary
http://www.sport.be/kimclijsters/eng/nieuws/kimsdagboek/

 

[shap_half]

well almost everyone already considers justine to be number player so it doesn't really matter if kim is there or not, it's only a techinicality that justine gets that title

 

[Allez Joosteen]

well almost everyone already considers justine to be number player so it doesn't really matter if kim is there or not, it's only a techinicality that justine gets that title

I see it the same way. Joosteen is already #1 and it becomes official this week. I'm not slagging Kim's efforts and talent nor am I diminishing them. I'm just pointing out the reality.

 

[Elke]

Season finished for Kim??
'Kim and her entourage are smart enough to not take any risks. So I think they'll decide her season is over.' Orthopedic surgeon, Bruno Willems from Hasselt, specialised in sports injury's, was clear. 'I've seen the images on tv. Kim wasn't able to walk properly (normally) after she sprained her ankle. Even with a sprained ankle in the best 'case', she'll have to have a minimum rest of 10-14 days. So IMO, the tournament in Filderstadt will be to soon.'
....

Then they have the complete yahoo article translated, as Kim hasn't talked formally to the press.
....

Doctor Willems has seen a lot of sportsmen and women in his practice. A lot of footballplayers have been on his table. 'It rarely happens people have THAT injury in THAT particular situation. But it also could have happened when your foot shoves from the lace of your shoe.'
There is no problem for the further carreer of Kim. 'Such an injury heals.
I don't think this injury will endager her splits in the future.'
Doctor Willems can't judge from a distance about the details of her injury: 'A lot depends on the internal bleeding and the swelling, they decide how serious the injury is. ...
On the question if this injury is a consequence of her extreme splits, he immediately tells: 'NO! There's nothing wrong with her grand écart. A lot of dancers do it ten thousands of times. For very flexible players, like Kim, there isn't any problem, even if she leans on the inner side of her feet. Probably she had it this time in Leipzig, because of the surface which was very rough. Maybe the splits will cause some arthrosis when she is older, but no serious injuries.'

I did my best, but this one was really difficult with all the technical stuff, but at least I hope you understand A TINY BIT!

 

[Knizzle]

Wait a minute. This doesn't mean she could be out for the rest of the year?? I hope not because there is already too many people out with injury. I want to see her at the Filderstadt, Zurich, and the YEC. I'm sick of people losing the #1 due to injury instead of being beaten by the #2.

 

[Bella]

Well, Kim has been being beaten by the number two for a while.

 

[Knizzle]

Well, Kim has been being beaten by the number two for a while.

True, but Henin wasn't #2 while she was beating Clijsters.

 

[lizchris]

Just from reading that she dislocated her ligaments (which sounds like torn to me, but who knows?), my guess is that her season is done. American fooltball players have these injuries all the time and recovery can be anywhere from 4-6 weeks with sugery. Even if her ligaments aren't torn, it would be dangerous for her to play if they are not healed, so she should take the advice of Dr. Williams and not play.

 

[tennnisfannn]

Ankle injuries can be very difficult to heal and only time can sort that out. Kim may come back and play but she will be playing in pain. Sje may not get the results she wants and I'd rather she didn't show up till the YEC.
I am sure she will lose points but she has done so well she will still be ranked 2 anyway.
Get well Kim.