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Clijsters and Davydenko miss French Open

Clijsters has made a superb return to tennis but will be missing at Roland Garros.
Clijsters has made a superb return to tennis but will be missing at Roland Garros.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Kim Clijsters and Nikolay Davydenko to miss French Open through injury
  • U.S. Open champion Clijsters has not recovered from a foot injury
  • World number six Davydenko is suffering from a persistent wrist problem
  • Clijsters says she is now targeting success at Wimbledon

(CNN) -- Belgian Kim Clijsters and Nikolay Davydenko of Russia will both miss this month's French Open through injury, organizers said on Friday.

U.S. Open champion Clijsters suffered a foot injury in the Fed Cup last month while ATP World Tour Finals winner Davydenko has not played since mid-March with a wrist problem.

The popular Clijsters will be sorely missed at the second grand slam of the season after her sensational comeback to tennis last year which culminated in her triumph at Flushing Meadows.

Clijsters, who will be replaced in the main draw at Roland Garros by Canadian Stephanie Dubois, will now concentrate her efforts on Wimbledon, targeting a return at the Eastbourne tournament which begins on June 14.

"I will continue my recovery to be totally up for the season on grass," Clijsters was quoted on her official Web site.

I will continue my recovery to be totally up for the season on grass
--Kim Clijsters

"It's really a shame to give up on Roland Garros. Paris is so close I always feel a little at home. And that's where I played my first grand slam final.

"But the foot pain forces me to throw in the towel."

Davydenko joins a growing list of male casualties for the clay court grand slam, headed by U.S. Open Juan Martin Del Potro who also has a serious wrist injury.

Germany's Tommy Haas and American James Blake have also pulled out.

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The ever-consistent Davydenko was a semifinalist in Paris in 2005 and 2007.

There is no word on when he plans to return to competitive tennis, but he appears likely to miss Wimbledon as well.