Tennis: Williams, Clijsters make triumphant returns
Former world number ones off to winning start in Miami Open.
MIAMI:
Former world number ones Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters made triumphant returns to the WTA after long layoffs with victories at the WTA and ATP Miami hardcourt tournament.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who has not played a WTA event since pulling out of last year’s US Open, defeated Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-0, 6-3 in 77 minutes.
“It was great to be back out there,” said Williams. “It was a bit nerve-wracking but I was able to get a great start and settle in and play well against a really difficult opponent. It was definitely an ideal start.”
Belgium’s Clijsters, playing for the first time since her Australian Open semi-final loss to World number one Victoria Azarenka, rallied to eliminate Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
“It’s always tough to get that first match rhythm under your belt,” said Clijsters. “But as I started to feel more comfortable with the conditions and being in a match situation again I was hitting better.”
Williams advanced to a second-round match against Czech third-seed, and Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova, while next up for Clijsters is her first match against Germany’s 14th-seeded Julia Goerges.
First-round matches began in the men’s draw with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez making his ATP farewell as Frenchman Nicolas Mahut defeated him 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3). Gonzalez last month announced his decision to retire after this event. Russian Nikolay Davydenko outlasted American James Blake 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to book a second-round date with US 10th-seed John Isner.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2012.
Former world number ones Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters made triumphant returns to the WTA after long layoffs with victories at the WTA and ATP Miami hardcourt tournament.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who has not played a WTA event since pulling out of last year’s US Open, defeated Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-0, 6-3 in 77 minutes.
“It was great to be back out there,” said Williams. “It was a bit nerve-wracking but I was able to get a great start and settle in and play well against a really difficult opponent. It was definitely an ideal start.”
Belgium’s Clijsters, playing for the first time since her Australian Open semi-final loss to World number one Victoria Azarenka, rallied to eliminate Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.
“It’s always tough to get that first match rhythm under your belt,” said Clijsters. “But as I started to feel more comfortable with the conditions and being in a match situation again I was hitting better.”
Williams advanced to a second-round match against Czech third-seed, and Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova, while next up for Clijsters is her first match against Germany’s 14th-seeded Julia Goerges.
First-round matches began in the men’s draw with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez making his ATP farewell as Frenchman Nicolas Mahut defeated him 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3). Gonzalez last month announced his decision to retire after this event. Russian Nikolay Davydenko outlasted American James Blake 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to book a second-round date with US 10th-seed John Isner.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2012.