Clijsters on Track for Roland Garros Return

Kim Clijsters in on course to make her long awaited return to Roland Garros after a five years. The Belgian hasn't competed at the French Open since her semi-final finish of 2006 and the 27-year old's participation at this year's tournament was under serious threat following a badly damaged ankle injury sustained earlier this month.

Clijsters suffered the injury at her cousin's wedding and it was feared the timescale of recovery could encroach onto the French Open, which starts at the end of May. For a while the French Open tournament betting suggested she wouldn't make it at all.

The Belgian's physiotherapist Sam Verslegers played down those fear this week though, claiming everything was on track for Clijsters to once again seek that maiden title at Roland Garros.

"Kim is able to walk about without crutches. She needs some four to six weeks to complete her recovery. We are perfectly on track," he said.

"If Kim can get back into training in four weeks, she would have two weeks in which to get ready for Roland Garros. But we are not there yet."

When Clijsters suffered the injury she was closing in on a return to action following the shoulder and wrist problems that affected her so badly during the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami at the beginning of the month. Those problems have cleared up now and the four-time Grand Slam winner will be able to focus on getting her ankle sorted before mounting her challenge in Paris next month and the French Open tennis betting indicates she will be in with a chance of winning.

The French Open has been a case of 'nice try but no cigar' for Clijsters, with her two runners-up finishes as well as her 2006 semi-final finish. If the Belgian can reproduce some of the form she showed on her way to taking home Australian Open glory at the start of the year, then this could well finally be her time to succeed at the year's second Grand Slam.

The world number two will head to Roland Garros as one of the stand-out favourites, despite the fact that Clijsters won't have any chance of playing in any warm-up tournaments beforehand.