Ivanovic Streaks Into French Open Semifinals
Ana Ivanovic’s run at the French Open continued on Tuesday as the former world number one defeated the Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Roland Garros semifinals.
Ivanovic battled through some windy conditions throughout the match, even double-faulting on her opening service game, to stay with it and cruise into the final four.
“The ball was going all over the place,” said Ivanovic. “I’m really happy that I stayed calm despite the mishits.”
She converted on both of her break point chances in the opening set to take it in just 39 minutes. Ivanovic then broke to open the second set and consolidated it with a hold to seize full control.
Ivanovic is through to her first Grand Slam semifinal since she won the French Open back in 2008.
“I don’t know if I should feel very old or very happy,” she joked in her on-court interview after the match.
In the semis, Ivanovic will take on 13th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova for a chance at the final.
Safarova beat 21st-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach the final four.
After the two exchanged holds for the first 12 games, the opening set was sent into a tie-breaker. Safarova jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the breaker and would go on to close it out 7-3.
She then broke Muguruza in the second game of the second set to seize control. Overall, she hit 28 winners to just 18 unforced errors to maintain her lead and advance to her second career Grand Slam semifinal.
Safarova leads the all-time head-to-head series 5-3 over Ivanovic.
