BRUSSELS - Another foot fault has deprived women's tennis of one of its best players.
Kim Clijsters mangled her ankle at a wedding party last weekend, likely forcing the U.S. and Australian Open winner from the French Open.
Her mishap recalls the accident that sidelined Serena Williams immediately after her Wimbledon victory last year. She cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant in Germany, resulting in two operations.
Williams' misery was compounded by other health concerns and the 13-time major champion has not played since.
When the French Open starts May 22, tennis might well have to do without the winners of the last three Grand Slam tournaments.
On Saturday, Clijsters was wearing high heels when she stepped on someone's foot at a cousin's wedding. The complex injury - ligaments were stretched on top of a torn ankle joint capsule and tendon sheath - will force her to keep her right ankle immobilized and require her to use crutches.
People are also reading…
running
Samuelson to race in Boston
BOSTON - Olympic gold medalist and two-time Boston Marathon champion Joan Samuelson will compete in the Boston Marathon on Monday for the first time since 1993.
Samuelson, 53, will start among the Elite Women at 9:32 a.m. The field will include approximately 67 of the race's top female marathoners.
Samuelson won the 1979 marathon in a U.S. record 2 hours 35 minutes 15 seconds, and she established a world mark at the 1983 marathon in 2:22:43, which remains the fourth-fastest time in race history.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
First-pick Moore goes to Lynx
BRISTOL, Conn. - Maya Moore was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the first pick in the WNBA draft on Monday.
Moore helped UConn win a record 90 straight games and also led the school to two national championships.
• The Phoenix Mercury did not have a first-round pick but selected Colorado career scoring leader Brittany Spears in the second round.
MISCELLANEOUS
Labonte earns Pac-10 T&F honor
UA shot putter Julie Labonte received the Pac-10's women's Field Athlete of the Week award on Monday. Labonte, a Canada native, finished second last weekend at the Texas Relays with a personal-best 58 feet 1 1/4 inches, which also was second-best all-time for a Canadian.
• American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke gained a controlling interest in the English soccer team Arsenal to become the fifth U.S. owner of a Premier League club.
Contains material from a news release
