THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Kim Clijsters began her bid to defend the Australian Open title when she beat qualifier Maria Joao Koehler 7-5, 6-1 in a first-round match Monday.
Clijsters broke Koehler's serve at love in the final game of the opening set.
That started a 13-point run for Clijsters that included three double faults by Koehler in the second game of the second set to give the Belgian player a 2-0 lead.
Clijsters has not lost in the first round of a major since the 2000 French Open.
FOLLOW
SPORTSNET
SPORTSNET
latest Tennis news
- Djokovic goes for 4th straight Slam at French
- Serbia beats Czechs to clinch Team World Cup
- Djokovic, Federer may revive epic French bout
- Almagro drops Simon in Nice, reaches final
- Radwanska advances to Belgian Open final
- Schiavone reaches semis at Strasbourg
- 13th-ranked Monfils pulls out of French Open
- Schiavone, Garrigues reach Strasbourg quarters
- Clijsters will retire following US Open
- Nadal beats Djokovic to win 6th Italian Open
headlines
-
Against all odds -
Devils deliver in Game 6 -
Game 47: Blue Jays @ Rangers -
Dubious path ahead -
Kings seeking third crown