SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters  is already relishing the prospect of renewing her long rivalry  with her fellow Belgian Justine Henin.

The pair, both on the comeback trail, could meet as early  as this weekend if they reach the final of the Brisbane  International and both have kept up their end of the bargain so  far.

Henin, playing her first match in 20 months, beat Russia’s  Nadia Petrova on Monday night and Clijsters followed up by  whipping Australia’s Alicia Molik 6-0 6-3 yesterday.

Clijsters needed just 60 minutes to dispose of Molik, who  has been her friend since they were teenagers starting out on  the junior circuit, but admitted she was already thinking about  Henin.

“Those are the matches that you want to do it for,”  Clijsters said. “This is why we love to play tennis, for those  big matches.

Clijsters said that although she was not at the courts on  Monday night when Henin was playing, curiosity got the better  of her and she watched the match on television.

“On TV it is hard to tell, once you stand in front of her I  think you get a better feel,” Clijsters said.

“But she was very impressive, I thought. She didn’t look  like she had left.”

Former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus  was made to work much harder than Clijsters in his 7-5 7-5  first round win over American Mardy Fish.

“It wasn’t my best match but I am happy,” Baghdatis said.  “In the off season I worked hard on my fitness. I am quicker,  fitter and I am enjoying it.”

Baghdatis will meet Czech Thomas Berdych in the second  round after the fourth seed defeated Australia’s Nick Lindahl  6-2 6-4.

American James Blake beat his countryman Sam Querrey 4-6  6-3 6-4 while Australian wildcard Carsten Ball defeated German  Mischa Zverev 7-5 6-1 to set up a meeting with top seed Andy  Roddick.