Henin-Hardenne pulls out

Belgian hopes of another Grand Slam success at Wimbledon have been dashed after the country's top two players withdrew from the tournament in the space of 24 hours.

Belgian hopes of another Grand Slam success at Wimbledon have been dashed after the country's top two players withdrew from the tournament in the space of 24 hours.

Justine Henin-Hardenne, the world No 1, pulled out yesterday following advice from doctors, a day after Kim Clijsters had taken the same action because of a wrist injury. Henin-Hardenne, who reached the semi-finals last year, did not play for six weeks before the French Open because of a virus and her lack of fitness showed as she was beaten in the second round by Tathiana Garbin.

"My physicians have given me strict orders that several more weeks of rest are necessary to ensure a full recovery," she said in a statement.

With Clijsters, the world No 2, also not competing, the French Open champion, Anastasia Myskina, is now the top seed.