US Open champion Kim Clijsters made a bright start to her BGL Luxembourg Open campaign as she returned to action for the first time since triumphing at Flushing Meadows.

The 26-year-old Belgian, now ranked 18th in the world after achieving swift success in her comeback and seeded second this week, cruised through her first-round match against Meghann Shaughnessy.

American Shaughnessy was outclassed by the former world number one who has taken a month off since winning in New York, as Clijsters won 6-2 6-2.

Clijsters will face Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik next after the 28-year-old defeated Germany's Anna Lena Groenefeld 7-5 6-3.

Clijsters' doubles partner and fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens also advanced in the singles, the qualifier beating Poland's Urszula Radwanska 6-4 6-3.

Ukrainian seventh seed Kateryna Bondarenko suffered a 6-0 6-2 defeat to Italian Roberta Vinci.

Switzerland's Patty Schnyder defeated Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-1 and Israel's Shahar Peer overcame another Czech, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-1 6-3.

Slovenia's Polona Hercog beat Italy's Maria Elena Camerin 3-6 7-5 7-5 and Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky beat Julie Coin of France 6-4 6-3.

France's Alize Cornet defeated compatriot Aravane Rezai, a lucky loser, 6-0 6-2.