An ankle injury has forced Kim Clijsters to withdraw from next month's Indian Wells tournament in California.
Clijsters, who has won the WTA's 'premier mandatory' event twice in the past, had been set to make her return at Indian Wells after falling at the semi-finals in the Australian Open.
However, the Belgian star has suffered an ankle injury and will miss the event which begins on March 7.
"I'm very disappointed," Clijsters said in a statement. "Indian Wells has been a very special tournament for me, winning in 2003 and again in 2005 when I returned from injury.
"I have great memories of Indian Wells and have always enjoyed the fan support there. I wish the tournament a great success this year."
Clijsters is expected to be fit in time to compete in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami later in March.