Ivanovic claims Los Angeles Classic
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Ana Ivanovic will rise to a career best fourth in the world rankings after beating Nadia Petrova in the final of the Los Angeles Classic Sunday, reports BBC.
The Serb won 7-5 6-4 to continue the form that took her to the French Open final and Wimbledon semis this year.
The 19-year-old's victory came hours after compatriot Novak Djokovic beat world number one Roger Federer in the Montreal Masters final.
"He played amazing, and I was motivated to do the same thing," Ivanovic said.
Petrova, the fourth seed, set her tactics on probing Ivanovic's backhand, but the eventual winner concentrated on using her impressive forehand.
The first set turned on three consecutive breaks of serve, started by Ivanovic, from the ninth game.
The final one took Ivanovic to 6-5, from where she comfortably closed out the set, and from there the match.
"It was tough at times because I was in muscle pain from yesterday and my shoulder was very tight," said Ivanovic, who took two and a half hours to beat Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals.
"I didn't want to go in to a third set because I was really tired. I tried to take my chances," she said.
Petrova said she found Ivanovic's forehand too strong to subdue.
The Serb won 7-5 6-4 to continue the form that took her to the French Open final and Wimbledon semis this year.
The 19-year-old's victory came hours after compatriot Novak Djokovic beat world number one Roger Federer in the Montreal Masters final.
"He played amazing, and I was motivated to do the same thing," Ivanovic said.
Petrova, the fourth seed, set her tactics on probing Ivanovic's backhand, but the eventual winner concentrated on using her impressive forehand.
The first set turned on three consecutive breaks of serve, started by Ivanovic, from the ninth game.
The final one took Ivanovic to 6-5, from where she comfortably closed out the set, and from there the match.
"It was tough at times because I was in muscle pain from yesterday and my shoulder was very tight," said Ivanovic, who took two and a half hours to beat Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals.
"I didn't want to go in to a third set because I was really tired. I tried to take my chances," she said.
Petrova said she found Ivanovic's forehand too strong to subdue.