DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP)—Top-seeded Justine Henin made a successful return to grass after a three-year absence, beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Unicef Open on Monday.
Henin’s last match on the surface was a loss in the 2007 Wimbledon semifinals. She won at Den Bosch in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2003.
The Belgian, who resumed her career in January after 20 months in retirement, accepted a wild card to the tuneup for Wimbledon, which begins next Monday and is the only Grand Slam tournament she hasn’t won.
Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic recovered from a slow start to beat Sofia Arvidsson 4-6, 6-0, 6-1, while third-seeded Maria Kirilenko eased past Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-4, 6-1.
Fifth-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania struggled to hold off French qualifier Julie Coin, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), and Dutch wild card Arantxa Rus eliminated No. 8-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
On the men’s side, Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands ousted compatriot and sixth-seeded Thiemo de Bakker 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) and Belgium’s Xavier Malisse defeated Rajeev Ram of the U.S. 6-3, 6-2. The American had come into the draw as a lucky loser when fifth-seeded Philipp Petzschner withdrew with a hip injury.
France’s Arnaud Clement defeated Simon Stadler of Germany, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, and Henri Kontinen of Finland beat Jamaican qualifier Dustin Brown 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (5).