TENNIS – Ana Ivanovic, winner at the Roland Garros in 2008, has returned to a Grand Slam semifinal since 2008 when she triumphed in the French capital and reached the top of the World Ranking. The Serbian star beat rising star Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-2. Ivanovic converted on four of her five break point chances and hit 37 winners. Diego Sampaolo
“Today was a very tough match, even though the score doesn’t indicate that. It was tough conditions, obviously for both of us. It was tough conditions for both of us. It was very gusty. I really tried to just execute my game plan and tried to move my feet more, because in windy conditions that’s what you have to do”, said Ivanovic
Ivanovic set up a semifinal match against Lucie Safarova who followed up her win against defending champion Maria Sharapova yesterday with a straight-set win over Garbine Muguruza with 7-6(3) 6-3. Safarova will reach the top-10 for the first time in her career. Safarova has qualified for her second Grand Slam semifinal after last year at Wimbledon. Last February she beat Vika Azarenka in the final of Doha.
Safarova did not convert a couple of early break chances and thus had to clinch the first set in the tiebreaker. The Czech player built up a 2-0 lead before breaking again before earning a match point a few games later.
Safarova leads 5-3 in her previous head-to-head match against Ivanovic but the Serbian player clinched the win in their last match in Tokyo.
“Lucie is a great player. She showed that many times. Yesterday she had a great match against Maria and she won in Doha beating Azarenka. She has had so many Top 10 or Top 5 victories. Last year I lost in straight sets to her here. She is doing great and she obviously deserves her spot here”, said Ivanovic.
