Kim Clijsters believes Amelie Mauresmo deserves to replace her as world number one.
The US Open champion said on Friday that the Frenchwoman, this year's Australian Open champion, is "the player to beat".
Mauresmo missed out on a chance to top the rankings this week when she lost to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open on Friday.
A title win for the world number two in Dubai would have seen her swap places with Clijsters on Sunday.
But with the Belgian out of action with an ankle injury until March 22 at the earliest, Mauresmo is odd-on to regain the world number one spot for the first time since September 2004.
"I earned the right to become number one but she is the player to beat now so she will deserve to be number one if she continues to play as well as she does now and I'm sure she will get there very soon," Clijsters said.
"Tennis is not about who just wins the Grand Slams anymore, it's about who is the most consistent player and Amelie is that player now."
Mauresmo beat Clijsters in the final of the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp last week, winning a third title in succession following her triumphs in Melbourne and Paris.
If the Belgian does lose her position atop the womens' game, she will not worry too much about it for the moment.
"Being fit and able to play at the moment is more important than being the best in the world," Clijsters said.
NO REGRETS
The 22-year-old said on Wednesday she would not defend the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells next month after her injury flared up again. She now aims to return in Miami on March 22.
"I re-aggravated 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.
She was forced to retire with the same injury from her Australian Open semi-final with Mauresmo last month and returned for the first time in Antwerp last week.
Doctors originally suggested an eight-week layoff but the Belgian was determined to play in her home tournament.
"Even if I had a broken leg, I would have done everything to play," she said. "I certainly don't have any regrets but I felt I fell a little short physically in Antwerp."
Clijsters is not giving herself any specific targets in the coming months.
"I don't know how long it will take to get me back to where I needed to be when I won the US Open and was playing so well. That is something I have to take one day at a time," she said.
One title the Belgian is unlikely to win this year is the French Open at Roland Garros, she says.
"On clay courts is where my injury seems to have started [after] injuring my knee and hip," Clijsters said.
"Physically, I have never felt I could move freely on clay or [be] a natural clay-court player. With the cold weather and heavier balls it has always been a lot tougher on my body."
But there is some good news for her compatriots as she is determined to represent her country in the Fed Cup. Belgium entertain Russia in their opening tie in April.
"If I feel good by then, of course I will be hoping to help Belgium to win. It's one of my aims," she said.
"I love playing Fed Cup for my country."
Photograph: Getty Images
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