Four-time Grand Slam champion hospitalised after retiring from exhibition match

Kim Clijsters has been hospitalised after retiring from the Luxembourg Ladies Tennis Masters, an invitational tournament for retired WTA players. The four-time Major winner was forced to retire from her opening match while trailing Alize Cornet 6-0 2-1.

Clijsters later shared a video from her hospital bed and confirmed that she had surgery after rupturing her Achilles tendon. The former world No. 1 is now expected to wear a boot for the next two weeks.

The Belgian tennis star took to Instagram to share the video and wrote: "Not an update I was hoping to share."

Speaking from hospital, Clijsters said: "Hi guys, I am in a hospital, as you can probably tell. Ended up rupturing my Achilles tendon yesterday at the event in Luxembourg, which was not fun, but on the road to recovery now.

"In the next two weeks, I'll be in this boot. Very annoying injury. Obviously, I didn't think that after I would be retired that I would have a big, serious injury like this, but it is what it is, so can't wait to get to the States and be with Brian and the kids, and start my recovery.

"For the people who knew, and who have been sending me lots of messages, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I was very bummed yesterday but it's all good now."

Clijsters is now hoping to be ready in time to compete in the Wimbledon legends event next summer. "The surgery has been done, it got connected again, and I'll keep giving you an update," she added.

"I guess I'm going to have to put some other people to work in the barn now because I'm not going to be able to do much for a little while!

"Anyway, thank you so much everyone, and I look forward to getting better, motivated to try kind of give myself the time to be ready to play tennis again and hopefully Wimbledon legends is what I'll be able to do next."

The retired Hall of Fame member was inundated with well-wishes and comments of support from some of her old rivals and colleagues from the tennis world.

"Feel better soon and hoping for quick healing," Billie Jean King wrote. Jannik Sinner's coach, Darren Cahill, commented: "Nooooo Kimmie. Hang in there and a speedy recovery, big hugs."

Retired British ace Naomi Broady added: "Oh nooo!! Sending a big hug Kim. Get well soon."