Kim Clijsters, the Belgian tennis player, announced that her comeback would be delayed as she will not be able to play in the Australian Open in January 2020 due to a knee injury.
"It is not a traditional injury due to overburdening the muscle," said Bob Laes, Cijsters' manager, reports Het Nieuwsblad. "She made a wrong move during a training session and felt pain," he added.
Clijsters has a small tear in the medial ligament of her right knee. "That means six to eight weeks of rehabilitation before she can start training intensively again. That is not necessarily a problem at this time of year, but it would have been a crucial time to build up for the Australian Open," added Laes.
I’ve had to make the decision that I will not be able to compete in January. I am undergoing rehab and treatment for a knee injury. It’s a setback but I’m determined as ever to get back to the game I love. I really appreciate all your support and encouragement.
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) November 4, 2019
Clijsters only wanted to go to the Australian Open if she felt completely ready. This is a setback, she said, "but I’m determined as ever to get back to the game I love," she tweeted.
On 12 September, Clijsters announced via social media that she would make a comeback to her professional tennis career.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
