STANFORD, July 25: US Open champion Kim Clijsters is looking to repeat last year's success on hard courts when she begins the defence of her Bank of the West Classic title this week.

The world number two lost only one match on hard courts en route to her first grand slam title at Flushing Meadow last season, but this year she has one title to her credit and has lost in the semi-finals of three consecutive grand slams.

“This is the part of the year I look forward to the most,” said Clijsters, a three-times winner of the Bank of the West Classic. “On hard courts, I feel like I'm hitting the ball well. It's where I can show my game the best.”

Clijsters won four hard court titles last year, but the 23-year-old Belgian has been riddled with injuries over the past two years.

She twisted her ankle in the Australian Open semi-finals and began to develop chronic problems in her lower back, which has affected her service speed.

She reached the French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals, but was unable to bring out her best against her rival and compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Two weeks ago, Clijsters led Belgium in a Fed Cup semi-final victory over the United States.

While she was thrilled with the victory, she paid for it.

“I don't want to make excuses because I'm not that type of person, but even in Fed Cup on the last Sunday I had to take pain killers for my back,” she said.

“It's been frustrating. I've been working hard to try to get back to where I was. I feel good, but sometimes my back bothers me after matches.”

Clijsters received a first-round bye and will play the winner of the match between Jelena Jankovic and Lilia Osterloh.

Swiss veteran Patty Schnyder is the second seed, followed by Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova and Germany's Ana Lena-Groenefeld.—Reuters