Clijsters suffers loss to No 258 player

MARBELLA, Spain - US Open champion Kim Clijsters, who celebrated her Miami title by returning to the top 10 this week, crashed out of the Anadalucia Open on Thursday to a player ranked 258 in the world.

Clijsters, playing her first claycourt tournament for three years following her retirement to start a family, lost 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to Spanish qualifier Beatriz Garcia Vidagany.

Seeded third, Clijsters had ground out a three-set win over Alexandra Dulgheru in the first round on Wednesday and looked like cruising into the last eight at one stage.