Clijsters rolls to win in Sydney

SYDNEY, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- World No. 3 Kim Clijsters dropped just three games Sunday in opening her 2011 season with a win at the Medibank International Sydney tennis tournament.

Clijsters reeled off the first five games in taking a 6-1, 6-2 decision from Alexandra Dulgheru. Clijsters lost a mere six points in eight service games and won 54 percent of the points when Dulgheru served.

Clijsters has won 12 of her last 13 matches and finished 2010 with wins at the U.S. Open and the WTA Tour Championships. She's also had success in Sydney, winning the event in 2003 and 2007. Sunday's win improved her career record to 13-2 at the Medibank International.

The only other main draw match Sunday saw Svetlana Kuznetsova romp past Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-2. Kuznetsova didn't drop her serve and had four breaks in eight Dokic service games.

The Medibank International, the final tournament before the year's first major, the Australian Open begins Jan. 17, features seven Top 10 players in its field.