Kim Clijsters will miss the WTA Indian Wells tournament after failing to recover from an ankle injury, although she will return for the March 19-April 1 Miami event.

Former world number one Clijsters, the 2003 and 2005 champion at Indian Wells, hurt her left ankle during the Australian Open, where she reached the semi-finals.

“I’m very disappointed that due to my ankle injury I’m not able to take part in this year’s BNP Paribas Open,” Clijsters said in a statement on her official website on Wednesday.

“Indian Wells has always been quite a special tournament for me. In 2003 and 2005 I won the event after a period of recovery from an injury.

“I really have the most fond memories of Indian Wells and always enjoyed the support I got there from the audience. I wish the tournament the very best.”

This year’s Indian Wells event gets under way on March 5.