Top spot beckons for Clijsters

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Comeback mum Kim Clijsters said she was capable of returning to the top of the world rankings after lifting the Sony Ericsson Open title on Saturday.

Clijsters crushed an out-of-sorts Venus Williams 6-2, 6-1, at Key Biscayne to claim her second title of the year to move into the world's top 10. Clijsters said that despite a limited schedule, resulting from her desire to balance playing with motherhood, she could get back to the top spot she occupied in 2003.

"If I do well at the tournaments I play I think No 1 is possible. It's just it's not my main goal," she said. "I'm not in a situation where I feel I just want to go to this tournament and that tournament to get more [ranking] points."

Andy Murray has decided to begin his clay-court season earlier than planned at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The British No 1 has been given a wild card for the tournament, which begins next Sunday. Murray has struggled for form since reaching the Australian Open final in January and fell at the first hurdle in the defence of his Miami Masters title last week, subsequently admitting he is having difficulty with the mental side of his game.