NEW YORK: More than four years after her French Open title, Ana Ivanovic is finally back in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The 12th-seeded Serb beat Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0, 6-4 on Monday in the fourth round of the US Open. Ranked No. 1 in the world in 2008, Ivanovic has struggled with injuries and her confidence since.
After failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second set, Ivanovic broke the 55th-ranked Bulgarian at love in the next game to clinch the victory.
Pironkova, a 2010 Wimbledon semifinalist, went up a break twice in the second set only for Ivanovic to immediately break back. There were seven service breaks in 10 games in the set.
On Sunday, Maria Sharapova reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time since her 2006 championship run with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova.
And defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia set up a last-eight showdown with top seed Victoria Azarenka as both captured fourth-round triumphs on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament.
“I’m so happy to be in the quarters,” Sharapova said. “It has been so many years and it’s a great stage to be at.”
Seventh seed Stosur squandered eight match points but finally subdued stubborn British teen prodigy Laura Robson 6-4, 6-4 in 98 minutes.
She advanced to a quarterfinal against an opponent she has never defeated, World No. 1 Azarenka of Belarus, who ousted Georgia’s Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-2, to reach her first US Open quarter-final.e really motivated. I’m motivated as well,” Azarenka said. “It’s my first quarter-final at the US Open and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Sharapova will next face French 11th seed Marion Bartoli, who beat Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon winner, 1-6, 6-2, 6-0, to book her first trip to the US Open quarter-finals at her 11th attempt.
“I’m speechless and that doesn’t happen very often,” Bartoli said. “It has been my dream to play well in New York. It’s one of the best matches of my season. I was moving so well. I was seeing so well on the court.”
Stosur, Australia’s first women’s Grand Slam champion since 1980, eliminated Robson, the first British woman in the last 16 at the US Open since 1991.
“I’m playing really well,” Stosur said. “I’m glad to get another match. I’m happy to be into the quarters again.”
Azarenka, who won her first Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, has now cracked the last eight in every Grand Slam event.
“She’s very dangerous,” Azarenka said. “What she did here last year was absolutely amazing. It’s definitely going to be a very difficult match. (Agencies)