Kim Clijsters believes Amelie Mauresmo deserves to replace her as the WTA's world number one.

The US Open champion said 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.

A title win for the world number two in Dubai would have had her swapping 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 in an interview.

"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 weekend, winning a third title in succession following her triumphs in Melbourne and Paris.

If the Belgian does lose her position atop the women's 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.

The 22-year-old will not defend the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells next month after her injury flared 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 per cent," 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.

One title the Belgian is unlikely to win this year is the French Open at Roland Garros.

"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 against Russia in April.

"I love playing Fed Cup for my country."

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