HASSELT, Belgium, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Kim Clijsters Wednesday beat Ekaterina Bychkova 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the Gaz de France Stars tennis tournament at Hasselt, Belgium.
Clijsters now has won 22 of her last 23 matches and is seeking her fifth title in six events.
Among other victors on Wednesday were Francesca Schiavone, Elena Camerin, Julia Schruff, Katarina Srebotnik, Karolina Sprem, Meilen Tu and Roberta Vinci. Sprem will face the top-seeded Clijsters on Thursday.
The 35-year-old Callens was beaten by Schruff, 6-3, 6-1 and played her final last singles match on Wednesday. She has announced that she will retire from the WTA Tour at the end of this tournament, but is playing doubles with Belgium countrywoman Clijsters this week.
Callens never won a singles title in her 16 years on tour, but compiled 10 doubles crowns.
