HASSELT, Belgium (AP) -Kim Clijsters started her comeback from a two-month wrist injury by beating Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 6-3, 6-2 Wednesday in the first round of the Gaz de France Stars.
Clijsters, who is defending her title, hasn't played since August, when she sprained her left wrist in Montreal and then missed the U.S. Open. She later bruised her back after stumbling over her dog while playing soccer.
The 23-year-old Belgian has dealt with assorted ankle, knee and back ailments and plans to retire next year. She missed most of the 2004 season because of injury.
In the second round, sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia defeated Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-3, 6-4, and Avaranne Resai of France defeated Karolina Sprem of Croatia 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-1.
Also in the first round, eighth-seeded Mara Santangelo of Italy retired with an injury while trailing Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 5-2 in the first set, and seventh-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia beat Olga Savchuk of Russia 6-4, 6-1.
