2-time defending US Open champion
Kim Clijsters today withdrew from the 2012 US Open with an abdominal strain. Clijsters had won the title in New York the last three times she played in the tournament, in 2005 (
d. Mary Pierce), 2009 (
d. Caroline Wozniacki) and 2010 (
d. Vera Zvonareva) maintaining a winning streak which dates back to her final loss to
Justine Henin in 2003.
Clijsters also
won the Australian Open this year but
Serena Williams did not defend
her 2010 title. Since her return, Serena has won 12 hard-court matches in a row which netted her two titles and must now be considered the favorite to win her 14th major title in New York this year.
