Ivanovic tops Kleybanova to end season in triumph
Source: Agencies |
November 8, 2010, Monday
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ANA Ivanovic ended the season on a positive note by defeating Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the final of the Tournament of Champions in Bali yesterday.
Ivanovic weathered some heavy hitting from her Russian opponent before breaking to lead 4-2 and won the final 11 points of the first set.
Kleybanova broke to lead 2-1 in the second, but Ivanovic immediately broke back with a stunning winner down the line, and her resilience under pressure, together with some fine serving, continued to give her the advantage.
Ivanovic faced a crisis at 5-5, but saved two break points and went on to claim victory with her eighth ace of the match.
The last few weeks have shown a remarkable turnaround for the Serbian former world No. 1, who has struggled since winning the French Open in 2008.
Ivanovic saw her ranking sink to 65 in July but her fortunes began to improve in August when she reached the semifinals in Cincinnati before retiring against Kim Clijsters with an injury. She also won three matches at the US Open before losing to Clijsters.
The Serb defeated Russian Elena Dementieva to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open, before winning her first title in two years in Linz, Austria. With her victory against Kleybanova she will rise to 17, her highest ranking in more than a year.
"I got to No. 1 and I thought: 'This is great and I have to play even better to improve', and I started changing my technique and the way I was working," she said in explaining her slide down the world rankings.
In San Diego, holder Italy closed in on a third Fed Cup title in five years after taking a 2-0 lead over an under-strength United States team, missing Venus and Serena Williams, in the opening singles of the best-of-five match final on Saturday.
Italy's top player Francesca Schiavone gave the visitors a flying start by brushing aside untried American teenager Coco Vandeweghe 6-2, 6-4 in one hour 23 minutes on the indoor hardcourt surface at the San Diego Sports Arena in California.
Flavia Pennetta then held off a first-set fightback by American No. 1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, saving one set point, before winning a tense match 7-6(4), 6-2.
No team has come from 0-2 behind to win the Fed Cup and the Italians are poised to complete another whitewash against the Americans, having swept them 4-0 in last year's final.
Ivanovic weathered some heavy hitting from her Russian opponent before breaking to lead 4-2 and won the final 11 points of the first set.
Kleybanova broke to lead 2-1 in the second, but Ivanovic immediately broke back with a stunning winner down the line, and her resilience under pressure, together with some fine serving, continued to give her the advantage.
Ivanovic faced a crisis at 5-5, but saved two break points and went on to claim victory with her eighth ace of the match.
The last few weeks have shown a remarkable turnaround for the Serbian former world No. 1, who has struggled since winning the French Open in 2008.
Ivanovic saw her ranking sink to 65 in July but her fortunes began to improve in August when she reached the semifinals in Cincinnati before retiring against Kim Clijsters with an injury. She also won three matches at the US Open before losing to Clijsters.
The Serb defeated Russian Elena Dementieva to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open, before winning her first title in two years in Linz, Austria. With her victory against Kleybanova she will rise to 17, her highest ranking in more than a year.
"I got to No. 1 and I thought: 'This is great and I have to play even better to improve', and I started changing my technique and the way I was working," she said in explaining her slide down the world rankings.
In San Diego, holder Italy closed in on a third Fed Cup title in five years after taking a 2-0 lead over an under-strength United States team, missing Venus and Serena Williams, in the opening singles of the best-of-five match final on Saturday.
Italy's top player Francesca Schiavone gave the visitors a flying start by brushing aside untried American teenager Coco Vandeweghe 6-2, 6-4 in one hour 23 minutes on the indoor hardcourt surface at the San Diego Sports Arena in California.
Flavia Pennetta then held off a first-set fightback by American No. 1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, saving one set point, before winning a tense match 7-6(4), 6-2.
No team has come from 0-2 behind to win the Fed Cup and the Italians are poised to complete another whitewash against the Americans, having swept them 4-0 in last year's final.
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