Injured Clijsters quits semis

Brisbane - Kim Clijsters' Australian Open defence was thrown into turmoil after she was forced to retire from her Brisbane International semi-final against Daniela Hantuchova on Friday with a hip injury.

Clijsters had taken the first set in a tiebreak and was down a break of serve early in the second when she called for the trainer before taking an injury time out.

She came back on court and tried to continue but conceded the match to the Slovakian, Hantuchova winning 6-7 (4/7), 3-1 to move into the final against either Francesca Schiavone or Kaia Kanepi.

Clijsters is the second high profile casualty of the tournament following Serena Williams' ankle sprain in the second round.

Hantuchova also benefited from that injury with Williams withdrawing from their quarter-final, handing the Slovakian passage into the semi-finals.