Recovering Clijsters feels she can be ready for Melbourne

Jan 7, 2012, 7:24 GMT

Melbourne - Australian Open officials are convinced that Kim Clijsters can recover in time to defend her title after the Belgian injured her hip and had to quit a match in Brisbane.

'With this one I kind of have an okay feeling,' the Open website quoted Clijsters as saying of her condition. 'If everything comes out okay it should take a little (less than) a week to get completely healed.

'I felt my left hip was getting tighter and tighter to the point I couldn't move forward with my upper body. The smartest choice was not to let it get any worse and try to be right for Melbourne.'

Clijsters, winner of four Grand Slam titles, missed most of 2011 with other injuries and has been pointing her comeback at the start of the year's first major a week from Monday.

Doctors have told the Belgian, 28, that she has done herself no major damage. The Open said a scan showed a muscle spasm on a right hip muscle.

Others plays are also hoping for fitness, with Roger Federer (back spasms), Serena Williams (ankle) and Maria Sharapova (ankle) all working to be ready for the start on January 16.

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