Photos: © Henk Abbink
(May 11, 2010) Yanina Wickmayer underwent elbow surgery on Saturday in Belgium and hopes to return to the pro circuit in time for the start of Roland Garros on May 23rd.
Wickmayer, who felt "heavy stabs of pain" in her elbow while practicing for Madrid last week, underwent surgery to remove floating cartilage from her right elbow, according to her website Yanina Wickmayer.com.
Wickmayer's spokesman said the surgery was successful. While she has little recovery time with Roland Garros looming in 12 days, Wickmayer is holding out hope she can play.
Fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters is questionable for the French Open due to a muscle tear in her foot. Justine Henin broke the pinky finger on her left hand last month, but has played with the injury and is scheduled to play the French Open.
The 14th-ranked Wickmayer opened the season beating World No. 12 Flavia Pennetta to win Auckland then played through qualifying to reach the round of 16 at the Australian Open where she lost to Henin, 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3. Wickmayer has posted a 23-7 record this season after reaching the US Open semifinalst last September.
Wickmayer lost to eventual French Open finalist Samantha Stosur in the second round of the 2009 Roland Garros.