Clijsters Braces for Lay-Off at WTA Berlin

After scraping out an opening round three-setter with a wrist brace that restricted her backhand, Kim Clijsters Thursday withdrew before the beginning of her second match against Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem at the WTA stop in Berlin.

"My wrist did not respond well to that (previous) match," the top seed said. "I'm pulling out and will not go to Rome next week. I will undergo further tests tomorrow. For the French Open, I would say it's 50-50 but I don't know. We have to wait."

With Clijsters' countrywoman Justine Henin-Hardenne sidelined with a virus, both Belgians could miss the height of the claycourt season at Roland Garros. Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in the French Open final last year.

Seeded winners on Thursday were (2)Amelie Mauresmo (d. Chladkova), (3)Venus (d. (16)Smashnova-Pistolesi for 13th win in a row), (4)Anastasia Myskina (d. (13)Schnyder by walkover), (6)Jennifer Capriati (d. (17)Sharapova 6-1 in the third), (10)Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Russian countrywoman (7)Dementieva in three), and (11)Paola Suarez (d. (5)Petrova). No. 8 seed Ai Sugiyama was also an upset victim, edged in three sets by Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga.

Friday's quarterfinals line-up is (6)Capriati vs. (4)Myskina, (10)Kuznetsova vs. (2)Mauresmo, (3)Venus vs. (11)Suarez, and Sprem vs. Zuluaga.