Kim Clijsters has revealed her injury scare is not as bad as initially feared ahead of her defence of the Australian Open title.
The Belgian retired midway through her Brisbane International semi-final against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova with a hip injury on Friday.
Clijsters underwent an MRI scan and was relieved to learn she had suffered a muscle spasm rather than a tear.
"With this one I kind of have an OK feeling," said the 28-year-old.
"If everything comes out OK it should take a little less than a week to get completely healed.
"I felt my left hip was getting tighter and tighter to the point I couldn't move forward with my upper body. The smartest choice was not to let it get any worse and try to be right for Melbourne."
The scan revealed a muscle spasm to the tensor fascia lata, a muscle on the outside of the hip, according to a report on the Australian Open website.
The four-time Grand Slam champion will continue to receive intensive treatment over the next few days ahead of a second check-up on Wednesday.
Clijsters, who beat Li Na to win her first Australian Open last year, has only just returned after spending four months on the sidelines with an abdominal injury towards.
World number one Serena Williams is also hoping to win a fitness battle in time to compete in Melbourne after her withdrawal after the second round of the Brisbane International with an ankle problem.
"I'm doing everything I can to heal up," Williams said on Twitter with a picture of her next to a private jet.
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on 16 January.