Clijsters dispatches Stanford winner in easy straight sets in first comeback match

Kim Clijsters was on a roll in her first comeback match against No. 12 seed Marion Bartoli, as the Belgian had no trouble in crushing the Frenchwoman with an easy score.

Clijsters, who was given a wildcard here in Cincinnati, was quick in beating Bartoli, who has recently won a title in Stanford, as she went up 4-0 in the first set, then Bartoli came back to 4-4, and from then on Clijsters took the lead to win the set. In the second set, Clijsters had an easier time, winning the match with a score of 64 63.

"I was really excited to be out there. It has been so long I've been practicing for this. To finally be here, it was exciting," Clijsters said. "It was nice to be back out there and going through the whole match preparations and routines again. I am excited I will be playing another match, that it's not over after my first one."

"Without playing a match for two years, it is pretty amazing the level she already has right now," said Bartoli, who was coming off her biggest career title, winning the Premier-level tournament in Stanford eight days ago. "Before she retired, her forehand was weaker than her backhand; today I think it was the opposite. When I put her wide on the forehand she was coming up with some amazing shots. But the way she was moving and hitting, it's just amazing."

Clijsters will next face Patty Schnyder, who beat Gisela Dulko earlier in the day with a score of 64 60.

"We all miss her on the Tour. She has always been a fan favorite and great for the sport. I really hope she enjoys it again and stays with us for a while," Schnyder said. "I didn't see her too happy at the end when she decided to take the break, and now I see her happy again. That's all that matters. If you have so much success you can choose which life you want to live... now she's back."

Monday, August 10, 2009

Singles - First Round

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Kaia Kanepi (EST) 63 76(2)

(11) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (Q) Melanie Oudin (USA) 26 61 61

(WC) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (12) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 64 63

Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) d. (16) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 63 36 64

Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 64 60

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 60 63

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 63 76(7)

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (Q) Tatjana Malek (GER) 64 61

Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 75 63
Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 63 62

(Q) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 62 62

(Q) Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 61 63