Ivanovic fights through on return

Eurosport - Wed, 05 Aug 08:40:00 2009

Former title winner Ana Ivanovic overcame a mid-match slump before advancing to the third round of the WTA LA Championships with a 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory against American wildcard Vania King.

TENNIS Ana Ivanovic in action at the 2009 WTA Los Angeles Championships - 0

The sixth seeded Serb was joined in the last 16 by second ranked Vera Zvonareva, who was pushed all the way in the night match before edging out China's Shuai Peng 3-6 6-3 7-6 in two hours 19 minutes.

Seeking her first title since October 2008, Ivanovic struggled with King's relentless counterpunching in the first two sets but in the final set, last year's French Open champion was able to overpower her plucky opponent.

"I felt happy with the way I was moving and playing," said Ivanovic, on court for the first time since a thigh injury forced her to retire from a Wimbledon fourth round match against Venus Williams in late June.

"It's just the first match and I have the ability to improve. I had an opportunity a few times to put the ball away but had a little doubt in my mind as to which shot to take."

King, who grew up in nearby Long Beach, was frustrated with her inability to trust her shots in the latter stages of her tussle with the 2007 champion.

"I was nervous," King said. "It's something I've struggled with, getting a mental block because they're in the top 10, but I think I'm doing a much better job of staying mentally tough."

There were no upsets in the day's first round matches, as 12th seed Li Na of China advanced when Japan's Ayumi Morita retired while trailing 6-0 2-0 and 13th seed Samantha Stosur of Australia eased past Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-1 6-2.

Chinese 14th seed Zheng Jie, who reached last year's Wimbledon semi-finals, outlasted Ukraine qualifier Olga Savchuk 7-5 1-6 6-2.

And 17th seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany battled past Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm 7-6 2-6 7-5.

World number one Dinara Safina will kick off her title defence against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who rallied to oust American Melanie Oudin 6-7 (3) 6-2 6-2, while three-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova will play third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Watch the WTA Los Angeles event on British Eurosport (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); starting with the quarter-finals on Friday at 8pm. Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

AFP / Reuters

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  1. Please oh please don't reply I'm going to bed­ now. Goodnight (please don't say goodnight back!)

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:56PM

  2. I know I need help but at least I'm on top of the­ situation

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:55PM

  3. If I travel on a bus I always go upstairs and when we­ go on a driving holidat I always travel on the roof­ rack. Even when it's raining.

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:54PM

  4. Please opera.aria I must have the last say PLEASE

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:52PM

  5. I sleep in a bunk bed but always on top.

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:51PM

  6. Still don't understand :S x

    From opera.aria, on Wed 5 Aug 11:51PM

  7. opera.aria please buy an up to date computer and post­ below me. Thank you!

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 11:47PM

  8. sanchez.santos - what on earth is your problem with­ people posting above you? Is it some kind of­ inferiority complex? Really you shouldn't feel bad,­ I respect alot of your posts and knowledge etc lol x

    From opera.aria, on Wed 5 Aug 11:25PM

  9. Please dear alison don't post on top of ME AGAIN!!

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 8:15PM

  10. alison if you are trying to aggravate me you are doing­ a comprehensive job!

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 8:15PM

  11. Sanchez i will post as many times as i like its not­ your FORUM OK.

    From AJ, on Wed 5 Aug 7:13PM

  12. alison you have now posted twice above me, surely that­ is enough for a whole article!

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 5 Aug 7:06PM

  13. Ana is still not playing her best and she seems to be­ plagued with a lot more than injury problems; it seems­ her confidence is shattered too. This should be an­ interesting tournament though, regarding which woman­ can raise their game before the U.S. Would be great to­ see Maria reach her highest level. Still, the WTA tour­ is so unpredictable, especially compared to the­ stallion standard of the ATP.

    From patchthetwat, on Wed 5 Aug 7:02PM

  14. Its never a good idea to go back to your old team as it­ never works out.Several players on the wta tour have­ done that and never reach their best again.Hantchicova­ being one of them when she went back to Nigel­ Sears.Then left him again soon after.
    Venus and Serena­ are very different from all the other players on the­ tour as they are so powerful and have their own style­ of play also they never played on the junier tour like­ the rest their dad would not allow it.
    I have to agree­ though the sisters parents have done a wonderful job­ full mark's to them.

    From AJ, on Wed 5 Aug 5:59PM

  15. AJ, if you are suggesting that Ana's current coach­ is doing a bad job then can you give some statistics or­ anything to support your claim? I bet The Williams­ Sisters' coach[Richard Williams & Oracene­ Price] have little knowledge of tennis and coaching­ methods but Venus and Serena have been dominant for the­ past 15 and 14 years respectively.

    From ashleysikod, on Wed 5 Aug 5:47PM

  16. I think Ana could get back to her best form if she gets­ a new team of people around her.She is now back with­ that coach Sven again.She needs to hire someone like­ Carlos that use to be Justine Henin's coach he­ worked wonders with Justine.Miss justine so much on the­ tour she was my idol.
    Good luck anyway Ana.

    From AJ, on Wed 5 Aug 4:59PM

  17. Ana have had some ups and downs in her game but it is a­ matter of time before she'll get her mojo back.­ Time is on her side. Maria Sharapova vs Victoria­ Azarenka...now that's the main event of the day. It­ would be very competitive if Sharapova finds her form­ and Azarenka doesn't emotionally self-distruct. I­ tip the former to win with her experience.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Wed 5 Aug 4:39PM

  18. Ana has won RG,also been in the Final of RG and AO,been­ at No.1(after being top 10 players for couple of years)­ and has dropped out of top 10,now at 11.So he is­ hardly a fluke.And she is very young,still only­ 21(birthday in November).
    She is a great player and­ talented player who is struggling but doesn't mean­ people should undermine what she has achieved so far in­ her career.

    From honeybeecro7, on Wed 5 Aug 4:06PM

  19. 11 i dont think she was a fluke, she won the french a­ year after being runner up there so she consistent to a­ fault, she just seemed to win the french then turn into­ this player with no confidence when she should have­ used the win to go on to better things.

    maria­ sharapova is better though!

    From ajpbolton, on Wed 5 Aug 2:56PM

  20. Where are funs of Ana.What happens.

    From radeta01, on Wed 5 Aug 2:44PM
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