Clijsters, Serena set to make Pan Pacific bow

Saturday, 5 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

TOKYO (Reuters): Big-hitters Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams are scheduled to head a quality field at this year’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, tournament organisers said on Thursday.

The two former world number ones and multiple grand slam winners will be making their first appearances at the $2 million dollar event, which begins on Sept. 25.

Belgian Clijsters, who won the year’s first grand slam at the Australian Open, is currently ranked second in the world and briefly held the top spot after capturing her fourth major in Melbourne in January.

Williams, who has won 13 grand slam singles title, has slipped to 11th in the rankings after being sidelined with a foot injury following her Wimbledon victory last season.

The American suffered a further setback when she underwent emergency treatment for a blood clot in one of her lungs earlier this week.