CINCINNATI — Kim Clijsters joked that she had “zero” confidence going into her first match in 28 months. She didn’t play like it, beating 12th-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-3 on Monday in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.
“Winning my first match feels good,” the former top-ranked Clijsters said.
Clijsters, who retired in May 2007 and gave birth to a daughter in February 2008, will meet Patty Schnyder in the second round. Schnyder ousted Gisela Dulko 6-4, 6-0.
• Men’s world No. 2 Rafael Nadal also returned to competition, after two months spent recovering from tendinitis in his knees. The Spaniard and countryman Francisco Roig won a first-round doubles match 7-5, 6-4 over Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic of Serbia at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.
It was Nadal’s first tournament since losing in the fourth round of the French Open to Sweden’s Robin Soderling.
• Former No. 1 Carlos Moya of Spain has pulled out of the U.S. Open because of a foot injury, giving 106th-ranked Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador a spot in the tournament that begins Aug. 31.
Cabbie’s attorney says Kane case overblown
CHICAGO — The lawyer for the Buffalo, N.Y., cab driver who alleges Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was involved in a robbery and assault on him Sunday morning said the incident has been “blown out of proportion.”
Kane, 20, and his cousin, James Kane, 21, are alleged to have punched cab driver Jan Radecki and taken back money they had given him after the driver told them he didn’t have 20 cents in coins to give them change, according to the Buffalo police report. The report said the fare was $13.80 and the two Kanes had paid the driver $15.
“It’s pretty much been blown out of proportion,” said Radecki’s lawyer, Andrew LoTempio.
The Kanes were charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors.
LoTempio added he believed the charges would “absolutely not” rise to the level of a felony, calling it a “regular kid incident.”
• Forward Mike Grier agreed to a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
Footnotes.
Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson didn’t take fully part in the Cowboys’ first full practice because of a leg injury, though coach Mike Gundy said the injury doesn’t appear serious.
• Georgia Tech forward Kammeon Holsey will undergo knee surgery that will force him to miss the upcoming basketball season.
• Chase Adams, a point guard at Centenary who was the defensive player of the year last season in the Summit League, is transferring to Pittsburgh for his senior season and will be eligible immediately.
• Lisa Leslie had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and became the first WNBA player to reach 6,000 career points as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the visiting Indiana Fever 75-63.
• Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz is joining the board of the U.S. bid committee for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Denver Post wire services
