Kim Clijsters: Injury Has Huge Impact on 2011 US Open Stars

The two-time defending champion of the U.S. Open will miss this year's tournament due to an abdominal strain. Clijsters is the No. 3 ranked player in the world and her injury will open up the door for one of the other top players to win the title.

Clijsters was playing very well this year, having won the Australian Open already. The U.S. Open is her best event and she would have been the clear favorite entering the tournament.

Without her, the door is opened for No. 1 ranked player Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane is currently the top-ranked player on the WTA Tour, but she has never won a Grand Slam tournament to date.

At just 21 years of age, Wozniacki is still young and has the opportunity to win her first Grand Slam with Clijsters out of the tournament. However, there are some concerns surrounding Wozniacki as she recently fired her father as her coach.

What about the Williams sisters? Serena is resting her foot and opted to withdraw from the latest WTA event in Cincinnati after winning in Toronto. Her sister, Venus, has pulled out of the last two events with a viral illness and will not play again before the U.S. Open.

The door is wide open for these three stars now that Clijsters will be watching the tournament from home. However, with question marks surrounding all three, the door may just be open for a player like Maria Sharapova or Vera Zvonareva to bring the title home.

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