World number two Kim Clijsters has pulled out of the German Open because of a recurrent wrist injury that makes her a doubtful starter for the French Open.
The Belgian, who withdrew on Thursday before her scheduled third-round match against Croatia's Karolina Sprem, said she would not play in Rome next week and would need further tests before knowing whether to enter the French Open starting on May 24.
The other top players in action on Thursday, Amelie Mauresmo of France and former world number one Venus Williams, easily advanced to the quarterfinals on a rainy day in the German capital.
The 20-year-old Clijsters, playing her first tournament in seven weeks, had struggled to move past Spanish qualifier Marta Marrero in her first match at the Berlin tournament on Wednesday.
"My wrist did not respond well to that match," the top seed said on Thursday. "I'm pulling out and will not go to Rome next week.
"I will undergo further tests tomorrow [yesterday]. For the French Open, I would say it's 50-50 but I don't know. We have to wait."
Clijsters's compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne, the world number one, is also a doubtful starter for the French Open because of a viral infection. Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in the Paris final last year.
Clijsters, who resumed playing in a Fed Cup tie late last month but had not played a WTA event for seven weeks, was wearing a brace around her left wrist on Wednesday.
She had said on Tuesday that she would enter the Paris grand slam but was not expecting too much because of her injury.
The Belgian is a righthander but the injury to her left wrist prevents her using her two-handed backhand properly.
Number two seed Mauresmo, who has fond memories of Berlin, having reached the final there as a qualifier in 1998 before winning the title in 2001, reached the last eight by crushing Czech Denisa Chladlova 6-1 6-2 in a match delayed by rain.
Venus Williams, seeded third, was just as impressive as Mauresmo when she swept aside Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi of Israel 6-3 6-1.
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