Ivanovic Outduels Halep in Dubai
Former world number one Ana Ivanovic defeated top-seeded Simona Halep at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, knocking off the defending champion 7-6(2), 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals.
“Honestly, I’m delighted,” said Ivanovic afterwards. “It was a great battle in the first set, and she’s such a great player and I really had to raise my game, which I think I did. It was not easy but I’m really thrilled to be through.”
Ivanovic fought back from a 3-5 deficit in the opening set before taking it in a tiebreaker, and then dominated the second set, breaking Halep three times in her five chances to push through to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Ivanovic will take on Czech Barbora Strycova, who came back from a set down to beat Julia Goerges 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 earlier on Wednesday.
“She beat Julia, who is playing great,” said Ivanovic. “So it’s going to be a tough match.”
The winner of Ivanovic-Strycova will take on France’s Caroline Garcia in the semifinals. Garcia breezed past Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-4 in Thursday’s first quarterfinal.
In Thursday’s second quarterfinal, Italy’s Sara Errani fought back from a set down to beat American Madison Brengle 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Errani will play the winner of the match between American Coco Vandeweghe and Elina Svitolina.
