Happy returner

As refreshing as a draught of ale, Belgian former numero uno Kim Clijsters has returned to the game after a two-year hiatus from the tour in which she had her daughter (Jada, now 18 months) and dealt with the death of her father. Clijsters has made an impressive as hell entrance at Cincy at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters. In her first match, the 26-year-old Clijsters dismissed Marion Bartoli (who had beaten Venus at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford last month), and Patty Schnyder in the second round. Yesterday, Clijsters had more of a fight when she played Svetlana Kuznetsova who won the French Open this year.

In the first set, Kim looked sharp (6-4). She was up 3-0 in the second, but then Sveta came back and won that set (4-6). Clijsters's first serve percentage was low, well beneath 50 percent. Not helpful. But then she rallied, winning the third 6-2. Gotta say, it's great to see KC back on court doing her trademark splits when she's tracking down a ball. And her looping, powerful backhand is a thing to behold.

During an interview, Clijsters revealed she's been training for the past seven months and that she's glad to be competing now. You could tell. She didn't seem deflated after losing the second. Unflappable, she just hunkered down and pulled out the W. Maybe it's having her family right there with her (hubby and former NBAer Brian Lynch) that gives Kim just the right perspective, but she seems rock solid.

Today Clijsters faces Dinara Safina, who's ranked at the top of the WTA. With Serena and Venus out in their respective third-round losses to Sybille Bammer and Flavia Pennetta, this could be Kimmy's tournament (she has a 6-1 record against Safina).