Los Angeles, Nov 10: Kim Clijsters is skipping the Fed Cup in personal protest against the International Tennis Federation's scheduling of the international team event.
Justine Henin-Hardenne also isn't playing, leaving Belgium without its two best players.

The semifinals between Velgium and the United States are Nov 19-20 in Moscow - nine days after the season-ending WTA championships. The winner faces either France or Russia for the cup on Nov 22-23. Clijsters had played 101 singles matches going into her last one of the year tonight in the WTA finals against Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo. She and partner Ai Sugiyama of Japan also reached the doubles final. Henin-Hardenne played 87 singles matches and will end the year as the World's No. 1 player. "If you see the year that Justine and I have had, we've played a lot of matches and it's tough to go home and train for another week before you get to play fed cup," Clijsters said yesterday.


"We just want to put out a statement towards the ITF showing that this is obviously the only reason we can maybe change the dates or the formula. It's sad that it has to come this far, but I hope for all the other players in the future that it made a difference."


She said Clijsters' protest "is going to be a test, but that is not the reason I am not going to play." Bureau Report