Defending champion and number 2 seed Ana Ivanovic edged Italian Camila Giorgi 7-5 6-2 in one hour and 39 minutes in her first match of the Toray Pan Pacific Open at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.
Giorgi, who boasts a 6-6 record against top-ten players, broke serve to 15 in the opening game before Ivanovic broke straight back. At 3-3 Ivanovic saved two break points with a forehand and an ace in a long game which featured 16 points. Ivanovic got another break in the 12th game with three return winners to clinch the opening set with 7-5 after a hard-fought first set.
Giorgi broke at deuce in the first game of the second set and held her serve to open up a 2-0 lead, but Ivanovic bounced back reeling off six consecutive games and closed out with a crosscourt forehand winner to clinch the second set with 6-2.
Giorgi made 45 unforced errors. The Italian has won six matches since her first title in s’Hertogenbosch last June. Her other 2015 highlights include reaching the final in Katowice and the quarterfinals in Hobart. Following her loss, Ivanovic praised Giorgi’s game.
“It was a very tough match tonight. She is playing well and she generates so much power off her groundstrokes and serve. I really had to stay low because she has such a powerful game. I knew I had to stay composed in the first set and then stay on top of her in the second set because if you let her play her game, she can play really well. I knew she would be dangerous so I am happy I made it”, said Ivanovic
Ivanovic is still bidding to win her first title this season in what she considers as one of her favourite tournaments. Last year she collected four titles during 2014. So far the Serbian player has reached the final in Brisbane (where she lost to Maria Sharapova) and two semifinals in the Roland Garros and Monterrey.
“I have great memories from this event last year. I really enjoy coming back here every year. It’s always special to come to Tokyo. I want to thank all the fans for their support”, said Ivanovic
Ivanovic will face Dominika Cibulkova, who became to only unseeded player in this tournament to qualify for the quarter finals after beating sixth seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-4. The bad period of form continues for the Spanish player who finally broke her losing streak by beating Kateryna Bondarenko earlier this week after suffering eight consecutive defeats since June.
Karolina Pliskova beat Kurumi Nara 6-2 6-4 after rallying from 1-4 in the second set. Pliskova converted on two break point opportunities en route to winning the first set with 6-2. Nara broke serve in the fourth game of the second set to take a 4-1 lead. The Japanese player saved two break point chances at 4-2 but Pliskova converted her fourth opportunity for 3-4. The young Czech star broke serve for 5-4 en route to winning the second set with 6-4.
Agnieszka Radwanska, winner in Tokyo in 2011, cruised to a 6-4 6-1 win over 2010 Roland Garros Junior champion Elina Svitolina to set up a quarter final against Pliskova. Radwanska overcame a tough start to the match in which she faced a couple of break points, but she converted her first break point of the set at 5-4 to clinch the first set. Radwanska broke serve to love at the start of the second set. Svitolina broke straight back, but Radwanska reeled off the next three games before closing out the match by holding her serve to love for 6-1 win in the second set. Radwanska has reached at least the quarter finals in all her seven appearances in Tokyo.
“The first set was very tight and it was about a couple of points. The second set was much better on my side and I was really staying focused and playing aggressive. I am happy to play another great match and be in another quarter final in Tokyo. Elina is one of the best young players on tour at the moment. I think we both have a similar style so sometimes it felt like I was playing myself”, said Radwanska.
