No. 2 seed, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, was forced to withdraw from her fourth round match against No. 15 seed, Marion Bartoli of France, at the 2011 WTA BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells today. Clijsters won the first set 6-3, as was trailing 1-2 in the second when she called on her trainer for treatment on her shoulder. She withdrew one game later.
Clijsters said her shoulder pain mainly affected serving and trying to hit high forehands. She claims she withdrew largely as a precaution with Fed Cup duties and the clay court season fast approaching.
“It’s not that I’m really, really worried about it, but it is something that I have to pay attention to and that I don’t want to risk,” the 27-year-old Belgian, champion here in 2003 and 2005, told reporters
Bartoli will now face No. 19 seed, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, a straight sets winner over No. 6 seed, compatriot Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 6-2.
