MONTREAL (CP) _ Kim Clijsters of Belgium won't be able to defend her U.S. Open title because of a wrist injury suffered at the Rogers Cup, her website reported Thursday.
``The injury to the (left) wrist that occured in the Montreal tournament seems more serious than thought,'' it said. ``That was what an MRI and radiology revealed in consultation with a doctor.
``Because of the injury, Kim will not be able to play in the next few weeks (probably two months out of action) and will therefore have to withdraw from the tournaments she was supposed to play.''
Those tournaments include the U.S. Open and a Federation Cup series next month.
Clijsters, the top seed, was forced to retire in the second set of a match Wednesday night against Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., while leading 6-1, 2-3.
The world's No. 2-ranked player, had the wrist taped early in the second set, but then fell on the wrist while reaching for a cross-court shot.
Clijsters is to spend a few days in New Jersey before returning to Belgium for further tests, the website said.
