Defending champion Kim Clijsters played her first match since August, coming back from a wrist injury by beating Luxembourg's Anne Kremer 6-3, 6-2 Wednesday in the first round of the Gaz de France Stars.
Clijsters sprained her left wrist in Montreal and missed the U.S. Open. She later bruised her back after stumbling over her dog while playing soccer.
The 23-year-old Belgian has dealt with assorted ankle, knee and back ailments and plans to retire next year. She missed most of the 2004 season because of injury.
Sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia defeated Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.
In the first round, eighth-seeded Mara Santangelo of Italy retired with an injury while trailing Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 5-2 in the first set, and seventh-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia beat Olga Savchuk of Russia 6-4, 6-1.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
