Kim Clijsters Returns With Win

Kim Clijsters returned to action yesterday for the first time since the U.S. Open and enjoyed a straight sets win over Jelena Jankovic in Doha.

The Belgian has not played since she lifted the title in New York in September after undergoing an operation on her foot to remove a mole.

But it didn't take the Grand Slam champion long to get into her stride as she broke Jankovic, who has been struggling with sinus problems, in the very first game.

A second break saw her open up a 5-2 lead and, despite showing some discomfort with her foot from time to time, was in complete control of the opening set.

She comfortably served out the set to take it 6-2.

While Jankovic did up her game in the second set and but at 2-2 she let a 40-15 lead slid on her own serve and Clijsters broke through once again.

Clijsters cemented the break by holding her own serve to go 4-2. The next two games went with serve until a double fault from Jankovic on a third match point handed Clijsters a 6-2 6-3 victory.

Speaking to the Eurosport after the match Clijsters said: "I hadn't played a match since the US Open so I knew it was going to be a tough match

"I'm happy to win in straight sets. Now I'll keep trying to do the good things, learn from the not-so-good things, and just be better for tomorrow."

The win was the perfect start for Clijsters in Doha and she will face Victoria Azarenka later today.

Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva, the other two players in the White Group, were also in action and it was Azarenka who made the perfect start.

She led the opening set 2-0 and then 4-2 but was unable to hold onto the lead as Zvonareva, who still has an outside chance of finishing the year as the world number one, battled back.

She levelled at 5-5 and a tie break was needed two games later to split the pair. It was also a close battle in the breaker but Zvonareva did finally edge it 7-4.

Into the second and an early break once again put Azarenka ahead 2-0 and the 3-1 but the U.S. Open runner up once again dug deep to battle back.

Zvonareva finally wrapped up the match 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw