Clijsters an easy winner in Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Kim Clijsters, in her first appearance since winning the U.S. Open last month, coasted into the second round Tuesday at the Luxembourg Open.

Two of the biggest names in the tournament, however, were forced to withdraw.

Caroline Wozniacki, the U.S. Open runner-up, was to have played American sensation Melanie Oudin, who fell to Wozniacki in the Open quarterfinals.

Oudin became ill before the match and withdrew, giving up her spot in the tournament to Anne Kremer. Wozniacki then suffered a hamstring injury during the first-round match with Kremer owning a 7-5, 5-0 lead.

Kremer, therefore, reached the second round of an event in which she was not expected to participate.

Clijsters, meanwhile dispatched Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-2. Clijsters, a winner of this tournament five times, will meet Patty Schnyder in the second round.

No. 7 seed Roberta Vinci was eliminated by Kateryna Bondarenko 6-0, 6-2 and Shahar Peer defeated qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 6-3. Schnyder was a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Petra Kvitova.