Former world number one Kim Clijsters will be out of action for at least two weeks after straining a ligament in her right knee at the German Open.
"In the best-case scenario she will play in the French Open (starting on May 23) but definitely not before. Plus she will have to limit the risks she takes and ambitions of winning," said a statement on Clijsters's website on Friday.
The Belgian must rest completely for a week but can then start cycling and fitness training.
Clijsters was forced to retire from her third-round match against Patty Schnyder of Switzerland after sliding awkwardly into the net.
The 21-year-old Clijsters missed most of last season with a career-threatening wrist injury but won back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in February and looked to have regained the form that carried her to the top of the rankings in 2003.
She swept through her first two matches at the German Open and had said how positive she was feeling in the run-up to the French Open.
