Clijsters returning after two months' layoff

HASSELT, Belgium - Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters is scheduled to make her comeback from a two-month injury layoff Wednesday when she begins her defense of her Gaz de France Stars title as the tournament's new top seed. Clijsters was promoted to the top seed when Nadia Petrova withdrew, citing fatigue. In Monday's only first-round matches, sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat fellow Russian Vera Dushevina 7-6 (3), 6-1, and Karolina Sprem defeated Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2. Clijsters hasn't played since August, when she sprained her left wrist and couldn't defend her U.S. Open championship. She increased her training last week and was pleased to report no problems with the wrist. She'll face Anne Kremer of Luxembourg in her first match. "I can truly say now that I'll be ready on Wednesday for my first match in two months," she said. "And this before my home audience, always a great pleasure." Besides Petrova, three other seeded players also pulled out — Nicole Vaidisova (ill), Katarina Srebotnik (fatigue), Maria Kirilenko (hip) — forcing organizers to redraw the main field at the last minute. "It is clear to me that a new calendar should be in place," tournament director Bob Verbeeck said. "As well, players should stick rigidly to a specific planning of their year. Right now, organizers are being left out in the cold."-AP