Tennis: Clijsters doubtful for Wimbledon

The Belgian injured her ankle during a shock 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 humbling by Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi.

ROSMALEN: US and Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters’ build-up to Wimbledon suffered a huge blow as she appeared to have re-injured her troublesome right ankle. The 27-year-old Belgian looked to have injured her ankle during a shock 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 humbling by Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi in the second round of the WTA tournament and could hinder her chances at Wimbledon, which gets underway next week. Clijsters has had a nightmare season since winning the Australian Open with first a shoulder and then the ankle injury curtailing her preparation for the French Open which showed as she went out in the second round to world number 114 Arantxa Rus.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.