Tennis-Sluiter back with a win, victory too for Clijsters

AMSTERDAM, June 14 (Reuters) - Dutch wildcard entry Raemon Sluiter celebrated his return to the ATP tour as he dispatched Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2 7-5 to reach the second round of the Den Bosch Open on Sunday.

Sluiter, who has reversed an earlier decision to quit the sport, eased through the first set but the match looked set to go to a tiebreak in the second before Sluiter eventually broke his opponent's serve.

"This victory is very special for me. A tremendous boost," said Sluiter, formerly world ranked 46 but now down to 872.

On a rain-delayed first day, top seed Fernando Verdasco, world number eight and Spain's Davis Cup hero last year, also progressed, beating compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-3 7-5. In an exhibition match, former world number one Kim Clijsters made short work of local hero Michaella Krajicek, winning 6-1 6-3.

The Belgian retired in 2007 but announced her comeback in March and is due to return competitively in August.

(Reporting by Aaron Gray-Block, editing by Dave Thompson. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)