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Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters retired from her semifinal match against Daniela Hantuchova at the Brisbane International today one game after taking a medical time out for a left hip injury.

Clijsters won the opening set 7—6 (4) but surrendered a break at the start of the second set and needed treatment after the third game.

She came back on court for one game before walking to the net and telling Hantuchova she couldn’t continue after falling behind 3—1.

Hantuchova has had a truncated run into Saturday’s final, getting a walkover in the quarterfinals when 13—time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams withdrew from the tournament after injuring her left ankle while winning a second-round match.

Hantuchova will next play either Francesca Schiavone of Italy or Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

Clijsters struggled with injuries last season and only played eight tournaments, including her win at the Australian Open.

The Brisbane International was her first since an abdominal injury ended her season in September and the latest injury casts doubt on her ability to defend her title at the first major of 2012.

The Australian Open starts on January 16 in Melbourne.