It took more than four months, but Kim Clijsters has her first title of the year.

The top seed from Belgium, Clijsters won the J&S Cup with a 7-5 6-2 triumph over Svetlana Kuznetsova on Sunday.

It was Clijsters' first claycourt crown since the 2003 Italian Open and her 31st title overall.

She also improved to 6-1 lifetime against Kuznetsova, who beat her in the semi-finals here last year.

Clijsters is ranked second in the world but had played in just four prior tournaments this year - winning none - because of a right ankle injury sustained in the Australian Open semi-finals and hip trouble.

This was her first event since losing to Jill Craybas in the second round - her first match - at Miami a month ago.

The fourth seed from Russia, Kuznetsova also was the runner-up here each of the last two years.

The finalists won the last two US Opens, with Kuznetsova winning her first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in 2004 and Clijsters achieving the feat in 2005.