Clijsters encouraged by positive comeback

DUBAI－Kim Clijsters says she is going to plough ahead with her comeback despite losing her return match 6-2, 7-6(8) to Garbine Muguruza in the opening round of the WTA event in Dubai.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Clijsters, 36, had not played competitively for seven years before the clash with Muguruza, who reached last month's Australian Open final, and is keen to push ahead after an encouraging display against the world No 16.

"I had a good feeling out there, I felt a pace I can handle. I felt like I was able to go toe-to-toe with her from the baseline," said Clijsters.

"I wouldn't have done this if I didn't have that belief somehow. It might take 10 matches to get the way I played in the second set, might take me 10 matches to get that from start to finish.

"I have patience. I'm going to work my way into it and fight. We'll see what happens."

Clijsters did not say where she will continue her comeback, not mentioning any future tournament entries after competing in Dubai as a wild card.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Muguruza, meanwhile, will play Veronika Kudermetova or Dayana Yastremska in the next round after having to fight off a determined Clijsters in a tight second set following a straightforward opener.

"I've seen her play when I started on the tour, she's an incredible player," Muguruza said of Clijsters.

"I was excited to be the first (opponent of the comeback). She played very well, especially in the second set.

"At the end. It was very tight. It was a fun match to play.

"I'm sure she's going to get better and better, for sure she gave me a lot of trouble. She played really well after all these years (away)."

Clijsters fightback

Ninth seed Muguruza, 10 years younger than Clijsters, dominated early on as the veteran Belgian played her first official match since the 2012 US Open.

Mother-of-three Clijsters, who was playing in Dubai for the first time in her career, was on the back foot in the early part of the match, losing serve in the first game of both sets.

She found herself three games down after losing her first two service games in the second set, battling back gamely to lead 5-4.

However, Spaniard Muguruza took the set to a tie-break and emerged victorious with a service winner on her second match point after nearly an hour and three-quarters on court.

Earlier, Ons Jabeur beat Alison Riske 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-3 to earn a second-round date with top seed Simona Halep.

Tunisian Jabeur, ranked 45th in the world, saw off American Riske amid passionate home support for a player who trains in Dubai.

Agence France-presse