Ivanovic takes out dream final at the ASB Classic

Ivanovic takes out dream final at the ASB Classic

Two former number ones and Grand Slam Champions went head to head in Auckland today, in what was touted as a ‘Grand Slam quality’ final. It was Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic who finally collected her 12th WTA Singles title, after defeating the USA’s Venus Williams, in the nail-biting final – the first of the WTA season.

It took Ivanovic three sets to defeat the seven-time Grand Slam Singles champion, taking the first set 6-2, with the crowd wondering if the tournament’s biggest ever match-up was going to be a walkover. However Ivanovic went down in the second set 5-7, with Williams finding her rhythm, and massive serve.

In what was a thrilling final set, Ivanovic regrouped and brought home the first tournament title of the year, closing out the match 6-4. The win was Ivanovic’s first title since November 2011, where she won the Tournament of Champions in Bali.

This afternoon’s match was the 10th meeting for the pair, with Williams owning an 8-1 advantage in previous head-to-heads.

The ASB Classic doubles final also took place today, with power-duo Sharon Fichman (CAN) and Maria Sanchez (USA) taking home the winners’ trophy. The pair toppled Lucie Hradecká (CZE) and Michaella Krajicek (NED) after a tie-breaker, with the final score being 2-6, 6-0, (10-4).

Sanchez and Fichman met Mona Barthel and Megan Mouton-Levy in Friday’s semi-final, which they took out in two sets, 6-2, 6-4. Earlier in the week they beat the top seeds for the doubles draw, Lucie Safarova and Andrea Hlaváčková, who won the US Open Doubles title in 2013.

www.nzfestivaloftennis.co.nz

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