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Clijsters wins again in Brisbane

Clijsters is continuing to impress with a second straight sets win in a row in Brisbane.
Clijsters is continuing to impress with a second straight sets win in a row in Brisbane.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Kim Clijsters reaches quarterfinals of WTA tournament in Brisbane
  • Belgian ace sees off home hope Alicia Molik in straight sets 6-0 6-3
  • Clijsters could meet returning rival Justine Henin in final of pre-Australian Open event
  • James Blake beats fifth seed Sam Querrey in the ATP tournament in Brisbane
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(CNN) -- Kim Clijsters continued her winning start to 2010 with a 6-0 6-3 demolition of Australia's Alicia Molik at the WTA tournament in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The Belgian, bidding for back to back grand slams at the Australian Open later this month, won the first eight games against Molik, who is returning to major tournament action after being sidelined since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Clijsters won the U.S. Open last September in fairytale comeback after more than two years out of action, could meet fellow Belgian Justine Henin in the final as they are on opposite sides of the draw.

Henin is also on the comeback trail, inspired by Clijsters' exploits, and returned with a superb straight sets win over second seed Nadia Petrova on Monday.

Clijsters was impressed by her compatriot's comeback match and believes she will will quickly return to the top.

"She was moving really well. Didn't look like she'd left," Clijsters told the official tournament Web site.

"Of course, it will be a good challenge, but there's a lot of other girls I look forward to playing as well."

Clijsters faces a quarterfinal against either Alexsandra Wozniak or Lucia Safarova.

In a later second round match, former wordl number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 6-2 2-6 6-4.

In the accompanying men's tournament, James Blake saw off fellow American and fifth seed Sam Querrey with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 first-round win.

Blake was in superb form against the 22-year-old Querrey, who is a rising star in the ranks.

In other first-round matches, 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus beat American Mardy Fish 7-5 7-5 to earn a second round clash against fourth-seed Tomas Berdych, who beat Australian qualifier Nick Lindahl in straight sets.