http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/3388349.stm
Clijsters ready for Melbourne
Profile: Kim Clijsters
World number two Kim Clijsters has decided to play in the Australian Open despi
te suffering from an injured foot.
Clijsters had been a major doubt for Melbourne after bruising a bone at the Hop
man Cup in Perth on 7 January.
But the Belgian second seed, who is due to play Germany's Marlene Weingartner i
n the first round on Tuesday, insists she is ready to return to action. She
said: "I have come here and I have decided to play. It wasn't a hard decision
- I really want to play."
Clijsters chose not to defend her Adidas International title in Sydney this wee
k in order to give herself a chance of being fit.
Doctors have told her that her foot will never completely heal, and that she ma
y eventually require surgery.
If I thought I wouldn't be able to play seven matches then I would have pulle
d out
Kim Clijsters
But the 20-year-old has been assured that playing in the first Grand Slam event
of the year will not damage it further if she straps up the injury.
"It feels okay," she said. "I play with the tape and stuff and that is what I
am going to have to do for a while now, I guess.
"I have been told I can't make it worse, so that's okay. It is getting better.
It is not 100 percent but it is getting better.
"If I thought I wouldn't be able to play seven matches then I would have pulled
out.
"I am looking forward to my first match and that is all I am thinking about."
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