Tennis: Clijsters crashes out of Miami Masters

MIAMI: Former world number one Kim Clijsters crashed out of the women's event as she lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) to Belgian comaptriot Yanina Wickmayer, the 23rd seed, in the Miami Masters third round .

Clijsters saved three match points but appeared to suffer a recurrence of her ankle injury.

Clijsters, who was playing her first tournament since an Australian Open semi-final defeat by Azarenka, had skipped last week's Indian Wells tournament to rest her injured ankle.

The 28-year-old won the Miami event in 2005 and 2010.

American 10th seed Serena Williams breezed into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Italian number 21 seed Roberta Vinci.

Williams, who is playing her first tournament since a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, will face either Australian sixth seed Samantha Stosur or South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers for a place in the last eight. (AFP)