Ivanovic Tops Venus for First WTA Title in Over Two Years
January 6, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
Ana Ivanovic won her first WTA title in more than two years, defeating Venus Williams in the finals of the 2014 ASB Classic, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Ivanovic entered the ASB finals with a 1-8 career record against Venus, but got off to a fast start, winning five games in a row en route to the first set and eventually finding herself a game away from the title at 6-2, 5-3. Venus reeled off four consecutive games to come back and win the second set 7-5, but it was the Serb who captured the final set and ASB title, 6-4.
"Coming into this week I didn't really have any expectations," said Inanovic. "I didn't even think about making the finals or winning it. I just tried my best, and I felt very comfortable here. Today was a great match. Venus is always very tough—she's a great champion and showed that again today. I'm just happy that after losing that second set I managed to stay calm and close it out."
The win marked the 12th WTA title of Ivanovic's career. Venus was playing in the 72nd WTA final and now has a 44-28 record in WTA finals. A seven-time Grand Slam champion, Venus' WTA ranking has fallen to 47th as she has battled injuries and Sjogren's syndrome, a fatigue-causing autoimmune disease, over the past two years.
"She played so well. We've played a lot of great matches and this is another one," Venus said. "I just kept fighting despite the odds. She was playing so well."
