Clijsters battles past former No.1 Ivanovic in Brisbane nonhereditarily

Four-time grand slam champion Kim Clijsters battled back from facing break point at 0-3 down in the deciding set against former world number one Ana Ivanovic Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International in Australia.

Belgium's Clijsters saw her early dominance challenged as Ivanovic took the second set for the loss of only a game and rushed into a 3-0 lead in the decider.

But the fifth seed fought back to win six straight games and close out a 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory.



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'I knew that if I could just give myself the opportunity to get back into the match and rally for it and not give her anything for free, she really had to go for the winners and dictate the points,' Clijsters, 28, told the tournament's official website.

Fifth seed Clijsters, winner of this tournament in 2010, will come up against 2011 U.S. Open champion and top seed Samantha Stosur or the Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova in the next round. They play Wednesday when 13-time grand slam winner Serena Williams will also be in action.

World No. 13 Clijsters is playing her first WTA event since August and is hoping for a good run at the Queensland Tennis Centre before beginning the defense of her Australian Open crown later this month.

Second seed Andrea Petkovic joined Clijsters in the last eight after eventually defeating spirited Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2 4-6 6-4.

Italian third seed Francesca Schiavone also advanced courtesy of a 6-4 6-4 triumph against Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva.

Also victorious was Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who came from behind against American Vania King to win 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Elsewhere on the WTA Tour, Germany's Julia Goerges overcame illness to defeat 2011 champion Greta Arn at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

The first round clash was a repeat of last year's semifinal, with fifth seed Goerges gaining revenge over her Hungarian opponent with a 7-5 3-6 6-4 success.

'I didn't really feel that well but when you go on court you want try to be 100 per cent... It's pretty tough somehow to beat a player like Greta but somehow I managed it,' Goerges told the tournament's official website.

Second seed Shuai Peng is also into the second round after surviving an early shock to defeat French qualifier and 2008 runner-up Aravane Rezai 4-6 6-3 6-4. The Chinese world No.17's reward is a clash with the Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka.

Two-time grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova was also a winner on Tuesday, getting the better of American Alison Riske 6-3 6-2. The Russian will face another American, Christina McHale, in the second round.

Meanwhile, hosts Australia saw their Hopman Cup hopes ended after a 2-1 defeat to France in Group A of the Perth tournament.

Marion Bartoli got France off to the perfect start with a devastating 6-0 6-0 thrashing of Jarmila Gajdosova in the match's opening rubber, with the Australian reduced to tears after suffering the first double bagel loss in the tournament since 1991.

France maintained their 100% record in the group when Richard Gasquet battled to a 6-2 5-7 6-1 win over former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, who is regaining fitness following a four-month injury lay-off.

With a second consecutive defeat already assured for Australia following Sunday's 2-1 loss to Spain, France made it a clean sweep with a 6-3 6-4 success in the final dead rubber doubles match.

'It's always tough to beat him,' Gasquet told the tournament's official website after his first career defeat of Hewitt. 'I've lost twice against him and I know he's a great warrior and a champion.

'He knows tennis and (is) one of the best players of the history but I'm really happy to win against him. I've been watching him from when I was a child so it was a good victory for me.'

Also in Group B, Spain joined France in making it two wins from two matches with a 2-1 success over China.

The day had started well for China, with 2011 French Open champion Li Na recording a 6-3 6-1 victory over Medina Garrigues in the match's opening rubber.

But world No.7 Fernando Verdasco leveled the clash with a 6-3 6-4 win against Wu Di, before Spain clinched the match with a comfortable 6-0 6-2 win in the deciding doubles clash.

The decisive contest between France and Spain which will decide who advances to the final from Group B will take place Thursday.

World No. 13 Clijsters is playing her first WTA event since August and is hoping for a good run at the Queensland Tennis Centre before beginning the defense of her Australian Open crown later this month. With a second consecutive defeat already assured for Australia following Sunday's 2-1 loss to Spain, France made it a clean sweep with a 6-3 6-4 success in the final dead rubber doubles match. 'I didn't really feel that well but when you go on court you want try to be 100 per cent... It's pretty tough somehow to beat a player like Greta but somehow I managed it,' Goerges told the tournament's official website.

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