Clijsters marches into quarters, Pennetta pounds Venus

CINCINNATI - Kim Clijsters reached a Women Tennis Association (WTA) quarter-final for the first time since early 2007 as her comeback to tennis continued full throttle at the Cincinnati Open.

The 26-year-old Belgian, who retired in May 2007 to get married and have a baby, has shown that her form has not deserted her, defeating current French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 here Thursday.

“I have to say I feel really good after this match,” said Clijsters. “It’s not that I feel tired or drained or anything. Just a few little aches and pains from getting back into playing matches.”

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams was stunned in the third round, losing for the fourth time in seven meetings with Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6(2), 6-4.

Pennetta won the title in Los Angeles last week and has now claimed 14 straight victories, including a clay title in Palermo last month.

Clijsters, the 2005 US Open champion, lost serve three times but broke Kuznetsova five times.

“A lot of credit to her,” said the Belgian. “She started hitting a lot of winners and hitting the ball deep and powerful, and some really good serves where I felt pressure straightaway in the beginning of rallies.”

Clijsters worked upon her desire to get back into the sport after resuming training for an exhibition series she played last May to mark the debut of the new Wimbledon centre court roof.

The Belgian, winner of 45 singles titles, announced her comeback effort five months ago.