Kim Clijsters has retired from the BNP Paribas Open with a shoulder injury. The world No. 2 won the opening set of her fourth-rounder with Marion Bartoli 6-3, but fell behind 3-1 in the second and grimaced in pain as she received treatment during her last changeover. After Bartoli held serve at 15 for 3-1, Clijsters double-faulted and immediately walked to the net, giving Bartoli the match. The Frenchwoman will face Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals; the remainder of this wide-open half of the draw includes Francesca Schiavone, Shahar Peer, Yanina Wickmayer and Dominika Cibulkova. Someone will be making an unexpected breakthrough at Indian Wells.
Clijsters' injury raises a few questions. First, is it a result of her heavy schedule during the first two months of the year? Though she wasn't playing matches every day, Clijsters played Sydney, the Australian Open, Fed Cup and the Paris Indoors in successive weeks. She had hinted about shoulder trouble earlier this week, saying that it could be problematic for the rigorous clay-court season. You have to wonder how this affects her chances at Roland Garros, a Grand Slam title she's yet to win but which could be her third consecutive major.
Lastly, will Clijsters play next week in Miami? She is the defending champion and as such has a significant amount of ranking points to lose, but at this point in her (second) career, Clijsters is all about the Slams. A withdrawal wouldn't surprise me in the least.
—Ed McGrogan