Tennis: Fourth seed Kim Clijsters survived a tough test at the US Open before beating Colombian Fabiola Zuluaga 7-5, 6-0 to reach the third round yesterday. The Belgian, who has won six titles this year, struggled early on in the humid, windy conditions on Arthur Ashe Court before coming through in just over an hour.

"It was very hard today," Clijsters said. "It was so tough out there. You always have to keep your footwork ready and always ready to move positions because the ball was just changing all the time, and the wind was changing too."

Clijsters, still seeking her first grand slam title, stormed to a 4-1 lead but world number 58 Zuluaga hit back to win four consecutive games. The Belgian, runner-up to Justine Henin-Hardenne at Flushing Meadows in 2003, broke again on her way to winning the first set before romping through the second.

Clijsters will next meet either 30th seed Ai Sugiyama or Czech Michaela Pastikova.

"I think she started playing a little bit better. At 5-4, I started to be a little more aggressive again. In the second set, I just knew I had to be aggressive and just keep going for the lines. Even though there's a lot of wind, you just have to play your game."

Clijsters missed last year's event following wrist surgery. But having won more titles in 2005 than any other player, she believes she is a better player now than when she reached the final two years ago. "Because I've been through that, little things don't bother you as much any more."

Top seed Maria Sharapova thrashed Madagascan opponent Dally Randriantefy 6-1, 6-0 in the second round. "It's so windy today I'm really glad I had a piece of chocolate cake last night or else I would have been blown away out here," said the unruffled Russian.

Russian Ekaterina Bychkova, who knocked out defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round, lost 7-5 6-1 to Croatian qualifier Ivana Lisjak.