Clijsters pulls out of Belgium's Fed Cup squad

Australian Open semi-finalist Kim Clijsters will not compete in Belgium's Fed Cup first-round match with Serbia in Charleroi on February 4-5, team captain Ann Devries announced on Wednesday.

"Kim confirmed it to me yesterday," said Devries.

"She explains the decision, which we understand, by the two difficult weeks she's had in Melbourne, as well as her ankle injury."

In Clijsters' absence, the Belgian team will be led by world number 26 Yanina Wickmayer and will also feature Kirsten Flipkens (world number 193), Tamaryn Hendler (211) and Alison Van Uytvanck (286).

The winners of the tie will face the winners of the Russia-Spain tie in the semi-finals, while the losers will drop into the World Group play-offs.