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Clijsters Wins in Comeback at WTA Hasselt
Posted on November 2, 2006
HASSELT, Belgium -- After two months away from the game, it was questionable how well top seed Kim Clijsters could handle the pressure of making a comeback in front of her home crowd. After all, the former world No.1's latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour win dated back to the San Diego semifinals in early August. Clijsters was in total control at the beginning, winning the first 12 points, but had more trouble later before posting a 63 62 win over Anne Kremer at the Gaz de France stars.
"It's good to have a tougher match," said Clijsters, who was sidelined due to a left wrist injury. "So you can find things you've got to work on and also be challenged mentally. This kind of match can only help me in this tournament, and next week at the Sony Ericsson Championships."
Clijsters won the first three games without losing a point, but struggled with unforced errors against a steady and quick Kremer. Clijsters is now trying to reach her third consecutive quarterfinal at this Tier III event. The Belgian made the semis two years ago and smoked all her competitors in straight sets last year to capture her ninth singles title of the year. The Belgian will try to do the same this year to collect match experience and confidence for the Sony Ericsson Championships next week. Her Thursday night opponent is Martina Muller, whom Clijsters beat in straight sets last year at the US Open.
The other two Belgians in the draw finished 1-1 on Wednesday. Caroline Maes, who received a wild card into the main draw, won her first Tour singles match by toughing out a 36 62 75 battle against Yuliana Fedak. Kirsten Flipkens, however, dropped her second round match against No.6 seed Vera Zvonareva, 63 64.
Zvonareva will meet French qualifier Aravane Rezai in the quarters. Rezai defeated Karolina Sprem, 57 76(7) 61, to enter her third quarterfinal of the season. No.7 Samantha Stosur ousted lucky loser Olga Savchuk, 64 61, and will face Sandra Kloesel for a spot in the quarters.
On Thursday, No.2 seed Francesca Schiavone returns to action against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska right after Ana Ivanovic takes on German qualifier Angelique Kerber.
-- WTA
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