Cincinnati, Ohio - Former number one Kim Clijsters has pronounced her return to tennis a roaring success and looks forward carrying on after defeating 13th-ranked Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-3 at the Cincinnati Open. The Belgian's Monday breakthrough marked solid return to the sport which she abandoned just over two years ago and comes around 18 months after giving birth to daughter Jada.
"I'm not relieved, I'm excited," said 2005 US open champion Clijsters, 26. "I'm excited that I can play another match.
"That's obviously going to be my next goal, to work on a few things that weren't going too well tonight.
"I'm just looking forward. I'm happy that I can play another match here and that it's not over after the first match."
The return of the former number one has revitalised the WTA at a time when controversy reigns about who is truly the world number one.
Russian Dinara Safina currently holds the spot, but critics say a player who has yet to win a Grand Slam title is not truly worthy.
Serena Williams, also present, has won three of the last four majors, but does not play enough for her achievements to weigh heavily in the 52-week rolling ranking system on the WTA.
Clijsters next faces Swiss Patty Schnyder as she attempts to continue her comeback dream.
"I felt pretty comfortable out there, didn't feel like much changed," said Clijsters, who re-discovered her love for the game while training for a Wimbledon exhibition to mark the debut of the new Centre court roof last May.
"I felt very good into my rhythm, and especially mentally, I stayed very focused. That's something that I think I'm the most pleased ," she said of her performance against Bartoli, 2007 Wimbledon finalist and winner of a California hardcourt title a week ago.
The mother of one said it was tough to leave her daughter in the hotel as she left for the courts.
"She was crying, 'Mama, mama.' It's just a very comfortable feeling knowing when you are out there that she's in bed sleeping quietly, doing her thing. So far the combination is going really well."
While undecided as to how far to carry the comeback, it's good so far for the Belgian. "I hope that I can get some matches in the next few tournaments, and I'll take that with me for the next season."
