Kim Clijsters withdraws from Wimbledon with foot injury

Wimbledon Championships

• Venue: All England Club, London
• Date: 20 June-3 July
• Coverage: Live on BBC One, Two, 3D, HD, Red Button, online (UK only), Radio 5 live, 5 live sports extra; live text commentary on BBC Sport website (#bbctennis); watch again on iPlayer

Clijsters won a fourth Grand Slam with the Australian Open title this year

World number two Kim Clijsters has withdrawn from next week's Wimbledon Championships because of a foot injury.

The 28-year-old, who would have been seeded two at SW19, had a recurrence of a foot problem at the Unicef Open in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

"At this moment I feel frustrated that it has to happen now before one of my favourite tournaments," she said.

"I've always enjoyed being a part of the Wimbledon atmosphere but I have no other choice now but to rest."

Following the Belgian's announcement, the players below her all move up a place, with Tsvetana Pironkova coming in at number 32.

With world number one Caroline Wozniacki named top seed, Vera Zvonareva becomes the new second seed, Li Na third, Victoria Azarenka fourth and former champion Maria Sharapova fifth.

Clijsters, who retired from the sport in 2007 and gave birth to her daughter before returning two years later to win the US Open title, collected her fourth Grand Slam title in January by capturing the Australian Open.

She first damaged her foot in unusual circumstances in April, after dancing barefoot at her cousin's wedding.

Although she returned to play in the French Open last month she was beaten in the second round by world number 114 Arantxa Rus.