WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS • KIM WINS 1ST MATCH!

Oct. 27 • Kim has made a winning return to the courts today, beating Jelena Jankovic in an entertaining two-setter in her first match of the round robin portion of the WTA Championships in Doha.

Kim, the No.3 seed and a two-time former champion at the season-ending event, had lost her last meeting against Jankovic but with a love service break in the first game of the match set quite a different tone, eventually winning in an hour and 14 minutes, 6-2 6-3. Jankovic saved two match points, including one with an ace, but couldn't save a third one, double faulting on it.

Although her overall numbers were good, Clijsters, who was playing her first match since winning the US Open, struggled somewhat on her serve ― she did hit seven aces, but that was outweighed by 10 double faults.

"I hadn't played a match since the US Open, so I knew it would be a tough one", Kim said. "I'm happy to win. Now I'll keep trying to do the good things, learn from the not-so-good things, and just be better for tomorrow."

Clijsters is the only player in the field to have won here in the past, doing it in back-to-back years (2002 & 2003); this is also her first appearance here since 2006, missing 2007 and 2008 while in retirement and not qualifying last year, having played only four tournaments after returning from retirement.