Clijsters Wins Comeback Match
September 29, 2004
Clijsters Wins Comeback Match
HASSELT, Belgium - Kim Clijsters made her anxiously awaited return back to
the Tour in Hasselt on Wednesday, taking place close to her hometown of Bree,
Belgium.
The former world No.1 has been intent on making a strong comeback, practicing
up to three hours a day. The work seemed to pay off, as she defeated Iveta
Benesova 76(3) 62. Clijsters needed a first-set tiebreak to get back into the
rhythm of her game and gave up only two games following.
Playing in a packed stadium with the crowd numbering over 6,000, Clijsters
remarked after the match, "I'm so happy to be back, especially here in front
of my home fans. The last few months have been very hard, but I was really
eager to get out there again. I've missed it so much."
"It's so nice to be out there competing again and all I can think of is
taking it match by match and seeing how my wrist reacts. Right now I'm
looking at getting the ideal preparation for next season. Tonight I felt my
backband was more consistent than my forehand and it was really nice to use
it properly again in a match."
Clijsters advances to her first quarterfinal round since February at Antwerp,
when she went on to win the title. That was her last fully completed
tournament before forced to retire from the following two tournaments
(Indian Wells and Berlin) and forced out of competition due to her left wrist
injury.
Clijsters now awaits the winner between fellow Belgian Els Callens, who is
benefiting from a wildcard into the tournament, and No.7 seed Magadalena
Maleeva. Callens and Maleeva represent two of the veterans still competing
solidly on the WTA Tour, with Maleeva leading their series 3-1.
No.3 seed Elena Bovina also advanced to the quarterfinals, cruising past
German qualifier Vanessa Henke 61 63. In her two matches contested so far in
Hasselt, Bovina has lost only six games. She hopes to continue the solid play
she's been showcasing in her next round, which will feature the winner
between No.5 seed Francesca Schiavone and Nuria Llagostera Vives.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals, Denisa Chladkova upset the tournament's
No.6 seed, Silvia Farina Elia in quick fashion, 60 62. She will meet the
winner of top seed Elena Dementieva or lucky loser Michaela Pastikova.
Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual follows up her upset over No.9 seed Jelena
Kostanic in the first round by moving into the quarterfinals with a 64 63
victory over countrywoman Maria Sanchez Lorenzo. Ruano Pascual is making
her first quarterfinal appearance this season.
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