There was no Sam Stosur but the player once known as ''Aussie Kim'' made her presence felt at the Brisbane International last night.
Fifth seed Kim Clijsters booked a Brisbane International semi-final clash on Friday with Slovak Daniela Hantuchova by crushing fiesty Czech Iveta Benesova 6-3, 6-2.
Gone are the days that Australia can lay claim to Clijsters, however, the world No13 again endeared herself to the locals by downing the woman who bundled Stosur out of the Brisbane International on Wednesday.
No longer troubled by an abdominal injury, Clijsters showed she had the stomach for a 42nd WTA title ahead of her Australian Open defence by cruising to victory in 79 minutes.
Clijsters, 28, was denied a quarter-final showdown with Stosur after Czech left-hander Benesova upset the US Open champion 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
And the four-time Grand Slam champion didn't have it all her own way early against the world No54 last night.
However, Clijsters' powerful forehand proved the difference as the 2010 Brisbane International champion extended her record at the event to 8-0.
There were encouraging signs from the former world No1 at her first tournament since recovering from the injury that denied her a chance to defend her US Open title. Clijsters cruised to a 5-0 lead in the first set before Benesova rattled off the next three, saving several set points along the way.
But Clijsters was not to be denied, claiming the first set in 43 minutes.
Benesova looked to cause problems in the second set, holding serve in the opening game before grabbing a break point in the second.
However, Clijsters not only held serve - she won the next five games on her way to claiming the second set in 36 minutes.
''Lefties are a bit harder to read anyway but it was hard to see when she is going to change direction on the court - it was tough to read her,'' Clijsters said of her opponent.
''I tried to be in charge of the rally as soon as I could because she is so sharp.''
Clijsters was pleased to have overcome Benesova but believed she was still reaping the benefits of her second round, three-set win over former world No1 Ana Ivanovic.
''I am starting to feel more confident. I was up and down in my previous matches, especially in the one against Ana - that wasn't there [last night],'' she said.
World No24 Hantuchova progressed to the last four when Serena Williams withdrew with an ankle injury on Wednesday.
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