Kim ClijstersThe defending champion, Kim Clijsters, continues her quest for a 3rd U.S. Open title after defeating Sally Peers 6-2, 6-1 in round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Open.

Clijsters of Belgium made 15 unforced errors in the first set before steadying herself to take the win over the No. 201 ranked Peers of Australia in 56 minutes. The 19-year-old Peers had to come through qualifying to gain entry to her first Grand Slam tournament.

“I had to find my feet again, in the wind it’s never easy. As the match went on I read her game better and played better myself. But I have a way to go to reach my best tennis,” said Clijsters after the match. “That takes time. I want to grow with every match, as the opponents get tougher I hope to play better,” she added.

The Belgian second seed will play 27th seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic for a place in the fourth round.

Clijsters has now won 16 straight matches at the U.S. Open. Her only two career Grand Slam titles have both been at the U.S. Open, and both the last two times she has played the tournament. She won in 2005, then again the next time she entered in 2009 after coming out of retirement.