Clijsters returns with Day 1 UNICEF win

'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands, June 17 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters returned to action Sunday after skipping the clay court season, logging a first-round win at the UNICEF Open.

Clijsters, who missed time while nursing a hip injury, bested Romina Oprandi of Switzerland 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3 on the grass courts at Autotron Rosmalen in the Netherlands.

Joining her with a Day 1 victory was fourth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy, who rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Olga Govortsova of Belarus.

Also notching a victory at the Wimbledon tune-up was Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, who dispatched Simona Halep of Romania 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.