Zvonareva downs Ivanovic
Friday, 7 November 2008
Fourth seed Ana Ivanovic lost for the second time in two days as Russian Vera Zvonareva triumphed 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 in the Tour Championships in Doha, BBC reports.
The Serbian, 21 Thursday, made a slow start and had to be assessed by a doctor after having dizzy spells.
She won the second set after wasting three set points but lost the match.
In Group B, Venus Williams won again, beating Elena Dementieva 6-4 4-6 6-3 and next meets sister Serena, who saw off Dinara Safina 6-4 6-1.
Zvonareva launched a furious outburst as an over-rule went against her in the first game of the decider, but she kept her focus.
Ivanovic played some delightful strokes but was plagued by inconsistency again and now has little chance of progressing, with only two players from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
She squandered a chance for a commanding lead in the second-set tie-break when Zvonareva did well to return two smashes in a thrilling rally.
But a magnificent cross-court pass created the fourth set point she needed to take the match to a final set.
Zvonareva's frustration with the umpire had a positive impact on her performance, however, and she raced into a 3-0 lead.
The Serbian, 21 Thursday, made a slow start and had to be assessed by a doctor after having dizzy spells.
She won the second set after wasting three set points but lost the match.
In Group B, Venus Williams won again, beating Elena Dementieva 6-4 4-6 6-3 and next meets sister Serena, who saw off Dinara Safina 6-4 6-1.
Zvonareva launched a furious outburst as an over-rule went against her in the first game of the decider, but she kept her focus.
Ivanovic played some delightful strokes but was plagued by inconsistency again and now has little chance of progressing, with only two players from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
She squandered a chance for a commanding lead in the second-set tie-break when Zvonareva did well to return two smashes in a thrilling rally.
But a magnificent cross-court pass created the fourth set point she needed to take the match to a final set.
Zvonareva's frustration with the umpire had a positive impact on her performance, however, and she raced into a 3-0 lead.