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By Adrianna Outlaw
© Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

(July 2, 2010) Justine Henin's US Open is over before it began.

The former World No. 1 has withdrawn from the US Open and is expected to be sidelined for two months due to a "partial ligament fracture of the right elbow", Henin announced on her official web site.

The 17th-seeded Henin crashed to the court, injuring her elbow, in the third game of her 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss to Kim Clijsters in the all-Belgian blockbuster in Wimbledon's fourth round.

Henin, who opened the season reaching the Australian Open final where she fell to Serena Williams in three sets, said exams showed the injury was worse than initially thought.

"I took several medical examinations that have revealed a partial ligament fracture of the right elbow," Henin said. "This injury will keep me away from the courts for a rough period of two months, with the consequence that I have withdrawn from the US Open."

The 28-year-old Henin said she will undergo more tests in a month to assess her progress.

In May, Henin won six of the last seven games to post a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 triumph over Samantha Stosur in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final.

It was Henin's first tournament title since she concluded a 19-month sabbatical from tournament tennis. Playing the fifth tournament of her comeback, Henin captured her second Stuttgart title and became the wild card to take the title.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion credited World No. 1 Federer for rekindling her competitive fire.

"When I saw Roger Federer winning the French Open (in 2009), I had a lot of respect. That brought back the fire that wasn't there any more," Henin said. "It's been a lot of work to get back and it's not over."