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Dokic advances in Sparkassen Cup to face No. 1 Clijsters

Struggling Jelena Dokic beat Croatia's Jelena Kostanic 7-6 (7), 6-4 Tuesday at the Sparkassen Cup, setting up a meeting with world No. 1 Kim Clijsters.

Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the world No.2, also attempted Tuesday to patch up their reported differences at the US$585,00 event.

Both are playing their first tournament since Henin-Hardenne downed Clijsters in the US Open final two weeks ago, heating up the two Belgian players' rivalry.

Dokic improved her 2003 record to just 22-25 in the first round match. She has dropped to No. 22 in the rankings after peaking at No. 4 exactly a year ago.

"It doesn't come back just like that. I've had a year when I haven't played well," Dokic said. "I want to get back into the Top Ten. That's where my game belongs."

Clijsters is chasing her third title at the US$585,000 event after 2000 and 2001.

The Belgian returned to Europe Tuesday after spending two weeks in Australia with boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt following her US Open loss.

The world No. 1 blamed the rift on speculation in the press. It was the second straight time she fell in a grand slam final to Henin-Hardenne after the French Open.

"I have no bad feelings. People [in Belgium] try to create things about us and set things up," Clijsters said.

"The Belgian media doesn't know enough about tennis to make comments. They want to create gossip in magazines like they do in the United States. But Belgium is too small for that."

Also advancing to the second round on Tuesday were Belgian Els Callens, who surprised American No. 7 seed Meghann Shaughnessy 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4),

Sandra Kleinova overcame Francesca Schiavone, Lina Krasnoroutskaya held off Fabiola Zuluaga 7-6 (5) and Kim Clijsters' younger sister Elke was bounced by Maria Vento-Kabchi, 6-3, 6-1.
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