Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Ana Ivanovic Reached into the Final of Australian Open 2008

Ana Ivanovic advanced into the final of Australian Open 2008 after winning a hard-fought three-set match over Daniela Hantuchova in the semi final. Ivanovic lost a set for the first time in the tournament in her However, Ivanovic showed her mental toughness winning the match 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 after suffering eight games in a row in the match. It was known to all that the Serbian improved her fitness level, but the tennis world has seen her mental strength in this match.

Daniela Hantuchova started off the match in style, clinching the first set without losing any game. Ivanovic’s imperious performance was not found in the first as she failed to show any resistance in the first one being held to love 6-0. Daniela Hantuchova, of Slovakia, opened the second set in the similar fashion with wining the first two games. However, Ana Ivanovic bounced back strongly winning three games in a row to make it 3-2 from 2-0 down. Hantuchova came back wining the next one leading to a closing end in the second set. However, Ivanovic sealed the second set winning three more games in a row, taking the match to the third set for the first time in the tournament.

In the third set, Hantuchova opened with winning the first game, before Ivanovic went on to win two sets in a row to take 2-1 lead. Hantuchova then again came back winning the next two games to make it 3-2. Ivanovic then won the next game before Hantuchova won another to take the lead 4-3 in the topsy-turvy set. With Ivanovic winning the next game, it seemed to be an order where both of them were winning a game after losing one. However, the break came in the order when Ana Ivanovic won the next two games to secure the second set as well as the match.

This is going to be the second grand slam final for Ana Ivanovic in her career after losing in the French Open final last year. The fourth seed now has to face Maria Sharapova in the final. It would not be so easy for the Serbian to break down Sharapova, the fifth seed, to win her first grand slam title. Sharapova ousted another Serbian Jelena Jankovic in other semi final of the tournament. So, Serbian fans will definitely want Ivanovic to take the revenge against Sharapova in the final winning the title of the year’s first grand slam tournament.

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