Clijsters steps past injured Zvonareva in abbreviated grass opener

Jun 21, 2006, 12:06 GMT

Eastbourne, England - World number 2 Kim Clijsters was heading for the gym Wednesday after spending just 14 minutes on court as Russian Vera Zvonareva quit with a toe problem at the Eastbourne Championships.

The 3-0 victory boosted Belgium's defending champion into the quarter-finals with ease. Russia's Zvonareva had won the Birmingham title last week, injuring her foot in the process.

'She said she had hurt her toes last week and had them taped up,' said Clijsters, who lifted the grass trophy at Devonshire Park on her first appearance in 2005.

The event features the top three women in the world for the first time in 27 years, with number 1 Amelie Mauresmo, Clijsters and number 3 Justine Henin-Hardenne all in the field.

France's Mauresmo was due to play her second-round game against compatriot Nathalie Dechy, while Henin-Hardenne, winner of her third French Open title this month, to take on Czech Kveta Peschke.

Clijsters admitted that she would have preferred more of a workout in her first match on grass at her only tune-up week for Wimbledon which begins next Monday.

'I was hitting well and enjoying it. The first match on any new surface is always the toughest.

'It's a shame this had to happen, but I'm happy I at least got to play a bit. I was dictating from the start, too bad it couldn't have lasted a bit longer,' she said.

With her tennis limited by circumstances, Clijters planned a full day of training, starting with a gym session followed by another hit on the lawns.