Clijsters forced to retire from German Open

Former world number one Kim Clijsters retired from the German Open yesterday after injuring her right leg in an awkward slide to the net during a third-round match against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.

Clijsters failed to convert four match points before surrendering the match while leading 7-6 5-6.

"(My leg) is inflamed now which is causing a lot of pressure around the muscles and the joints," said a pale-looking Clijsters, who was limping and appeared in pain.

The Belgian, who missed most of last season with a career-threatening wrist injury, said she was not sure exactly how the injury occurred but suspected it was the slide late in the second set, after which she had a sharp pain in her knee.

She said she would have to wait several days for a scan to see if she had damaged any ligaments.

"Hopefully if it shows that I haven't torn anything I will be back for the French Open... but if it does, well I don't even want to think about that," she said.

Top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia later demolished China's Shuai Peng 6-2 6-1 while former French Open winner Mary Pierce crashed out 6-2 7-5 to sixth seed Nadia Petrova.

A third Russian also made progress when eighth seed Elena Bovina beat Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States 6-4 6-2.