Classy Kim Clijsters clatters through

While the giggles are gone and the gymnast's genes less evident, that hooked, looped, whipped, thumped forehand stole the show at Wimbledon on Wednesday as Kim Clijsters, on her valedictory tour, barged into the third round.

It was fitting that it should be a shoulder-height crunched forehand which sealed her passage - the shot creating a sonic boom amplified by the closed roof on centre court.

Clijsters is bouncing in the basement of the world's top 50 these days, but come grand slams her quality is at the fore, and on a drizzly, overcast South-west London evening Andrea Hlavackova was relegated to bit-part actress as the Clijsters circus rolled on.


Her demeanour has been matured by marriage, motherhood and the passing years, and it was a muted joy which heralded her 6-3 6-3 victory - a clenched fist and a determined nod rather than a skip and giggle.