Defending champion Clijsters gaining New York momentum

Reigning US Open champion Kim Clijsters eased into the third round at Flushing Meadows with a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory over Australia’s Sally Peers.

Temperatures court-side eclipsed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but difficult conditions failed to hamper the Belgian as she dropped just three games on her way to victory. Peers, a 19-year-old qualifier, did twice manage to break Clijsters on the Arthur Ashe court, but aside from these momentary lapses, the No2 seed was dominant.

The 2005 and 2009 champion took just 56 minutes to set up a clash with the 27th Czech seed Petra Kvitova in round three. Despite the manner of her victory however, Clijsters remains grounded over her prospects of defending her title and admits she is still trying to recover form.

“I just had to find my footing again a little bit,” said the 27-year-old, who is seeded second this year behind Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the player she beat in last year’s final.

“I felt as the match went on I got to read her game a bit better and moved a bit better, but I still have a little further to go before I play my best tennis.”