The dangers of sentiment.  Kim Clijsters wanted so desperately to play her home tournament, but now it ends up costing her a much more important one.  But perhaps she's comfortable with that tradeoff.

From Tennis Week: Defending Champion Clijsters Withdraws From Indian Wells

Kim Clijsters won't be defending her Indian Wells title. The World No. 1 has withdrawn from next month's Pacific Life Open after aggravating her right ankle injury reaching the Proximus Diamond Games final in Antwerp on Sunday. Clijsters, who fell to Amelie Mauresmo, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the Antwerp final, said she plans to take three weeks off to rest and recover.

"I reaggravated the right ankle that I injured in Australia this past week, and now require some time off to get back to 100 percent," Clijsters said. "The Pacific Life Open has always been one of my favorite tournaments, and I am very much looking forward to playing there next year."

"In close consultation with the medical team, I decided to have period of rest for the next three weeks, which is really necessary to get rid of all the tiny physical problems," Clijsters said. "I don't want to go over the issue again and again, I just want to be injury free. So no tennis for a while, but even a more intensive treatment and physiotherapy. I also cancelled my participation of the Indian Wells tournament even though I had to defend a title and a lot of points there. My body has priority. After all that rest and care, I hope to be able to train seriously for a week and then play the Miami tournament."

If she can play pain-free tennis in Miami, Clijsters said she will consider competing in Belgium's opening-round Fed Cup tie against two-time defending Fed Cup champion Russia on red clay at the Country Hall du Sart-Tilman in Liege, Belgium, April 22nd-23rd. Two-time Roland Garros champion Justine Henin-Hardenne has said she plans to play the first-round tie if she is healthy.

"After (Miami), I'll be having some time to rest again and maybe participate at the Fed Cup," Clijsters said. "I'll decide about that after Miami."