Clijsters to face Bertens in WTA Tour comeback in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE – Kim Clijsters' return to the WTA Tour will take place at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she has been pitted against No.6 seed Kiki Bertens in a headline first-round encounter.

The 36-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion has not competed on tour since the 2012 US Open and her return to action as a wildcard promises to be a baptism of fire against the World No.8.

In the same quarter of the draw, No.3 seed Elina Svitolina

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In a stacked top half of the draw, Simona Halep has been handed a first-round bye but will have to face one of the in-form duo of Alison Riske or Ons Jabeur

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Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin

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She could potentially play World No.3 Karolina Pliskova

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No.4 seed and World No.5 Belinda Bencic

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Main draw action in Dubai gets underway on Feb. 17, with the final scheduled for Feb. 22. It is a hard court tournament at Premier level.