Clijsters wins see-saw contest to reach second round

PARIS, May 29 (Reuters) World number two Kim Clijsters survived a second-set scare to reach the second round of the French Open with a 6-0 7-6 win over France's Virginie Razzano today.

The Belgian, a losing finalist at Roland Garros in 2001 and 2003, wrapped up the contest in 74 minutes.

She will next meet either Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva or Conchita Martinez Granados.

''At the beginning I was allowed to step in but in the second set she started to play aggressive tennis and I was making too many unforced errors,'' said Clijsters.

World number 68 Razzano got off to a miserable start, losing the first six games in 22 minutes, winning only 14 points.

The Frenchwoman, however, stepped up a gear in the second set and broke Clijsters in the second game.

The U.S. Open champion, who saved three set points on her serve, broke back in the ninth game to force the local favourite into a tiebreak and clinched it 7-4.

REUTERS CH HS2150