Tennis-Clijsters set to miss US Open

BRUSSELS, Mar 19 (Reuters) World number five Kim Clijsters is set to skip the US Open in August so she can go on honeymoon.

''It is difficult to know whether I will be able to make it to the US Open,'' Belgian Clijsters said on her Web site (www.kimclijsters.be) .

''I am sure about Luxembourg (in September) and Stuttgart (in October)...these tournaments will be the last chance to see me play one more time and then tennis will be over and I'll finally be starting the new part of my life I have been longing for.'' Clijsters plans to retire this year and should the 2005 US Open champion miss Flushing Meadows, Wimbledon will be her only remaining Grand Slam event following her decision not to play at the French Open.

The 23-year old, will marry US basketball player Brian Lynch in Belgium on July 14. The US Open runs from August. 27 to September. 9.

REUTERS PDS PM0104