Kim Clijsters upsets Marion Bartoli in Cincinnati for a stunning return to tennis
Former world number one Kim Clijsters couldn't have marked her comeback to tennis better – the mother of a year-and-a-half old girl upset world No.13 Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-3 in the first round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati.
"To have won my first match feels really good," said Clijsters, 26, who hadn't played competitively for two years. "I surprised myself a little with the way I started and then I kept fighting and trying to stay focused. I felt good out there."
Clijsters lost just five points on her way to a 4-0 lead in the first set. Bartoli then levelled before the Belgian took two more successive games to win the opening set. In the second set, Clijsters had saved two break points in the third game, before breaking Bartoli's serve in the following game for a 3-1 lead. Clijsters then held her nerve to defeat Bartoli, the titlist at this month's Bank of the West Classic, and advance to the second round where she'll face Patty Schnyder.
Additional info: Eleventh seed Ana Ivanovic recovered from losing the first set to beat world No.61 Melanie Oudin (the famous eliminator of Jelena Jankovic at this year's Wimbledon) 2-6 6-1 6-1 and reach the second round, while ninth seed Victoria Azarenka beat Kaia Kanepi 6-3 7-6(2). (photo via Life.com)
interesting. do we know if shes coming back full time or just for fun? i think she could go all the way
Well done Kim, she did great on her first WTA match in 2 years. Congratulations, I hope she wins the tournament and of course avoid Maria in the next upcoming tournaments.
Ana Slumpnovic. -0-
Kim said that she would play Cincinnati, Toronto and the US Open and after that she would decide whether she will come back full-time. I think it depends on how successful she is in these tournaments. She did well to beat Bartoli. Hopefully she gets past Schnyder
I hope Jankovic does well and they meet in the final – but that would never happen
Clijsters could very well win the tournament
I kinda want her to.
that's so good!! the wta tour need this!! kim well done!! great player
Macho Nacho "that will never happen" – so true, especially because of Jankovic.
Nacho, it's interesting, but I've seen people argue that it's another proof of the WTA weaknesses as players are so easily upset.
well marija that's true. we cannot deny that the level of some of the player have been in declined and the tour is just about willaims sister and barely no more… but i think with the comeback of players like clijsters or sharapova brings to the tour a new chance of rise the level and not bored the audience that love female tennis!!! like us!! hahahaha!! xoxo marija!!
I have a feeling that something truely great will happen in the women's tennis, but I don't know what yet.
This year, the more prominent thing was the run of Jelena Dokic at the Australian Open. Pity the success hasn't continued.
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