By Lauren Lynch

(August 19, 2011) -- The USTA Public Relations announced that Kim Clijsters officially withdrew from the 2011 US Open and will not defend the title she has won twice in a row. She is suffering from an abdominal injury.

The Belgian released this statement, “Unfortunately, I will not be able to defend my US Open title this year because of a stomach muscle injury (left rectus abdominus strain).  Two weeks of rehab was not enough to heal this injury.  Obviously I’m very disappointed.  I trained very hard this summer and felt in a good shape to play the US Open.”

She also had to take herself out of the upcoming tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing.

She added.“Now there is nothing else I can do than to rest and have treatment every day.  If a gradual approach is not taken, I will relapse in the same injury, and therefore I have also no other possibility than to withdrawal from the tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing.”

Director Jim Curley commented on on Kim Clijsters’ withdrawal, “It is unfortunate that Kim has not recovered from her injury in time to defend her US Open title.  We wish her a full and speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.”

The US Open title is open and up for grabs.

Will she be able to be back for the Australian Open?

(Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/ Corleve)