“Definitely. I'm really happy,” she said. “I played some good tennis in past few weeks, as well. But to have it all the way through and play consistent on that level, I'm really pleased.”
Ivanovic earned the only break of the first set in the opening game and broke again to start the second set. Though Jankovic got back on serve at 2-all, Ivanovic won the final four games to oust the defending champion.
“It was a tough match,” said Jankovic, who fell to a 3-7 record against Ivanovic. “Ana played really well. She was really on her game today. I had a lot of opportunities, a lot of break points. Especially that first set, every game on her serve I almost had a lot of break points, and I managed to convert only one, which was in the second.
“I felt like my game was not really there. I wasn't really doing the right things out there, and she was really on her game. She was the better player.”
Ivanovic is through to the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals for a fourth time in six appearances. She won the title in 2008 and came just short of the title defense the following year.
“I enjoy this place a lot. The conditions for tennis are perfect, besides that one year we played the final,” she said with a laugh. “But, no, it's very nice and it's very relaxing. You get lots of practice courts and hotel is close by, so there is not that much outside stress as well. That’s what I enjoy as well.”
She will next meet France’s Marion Bartoli, who was up a break in the second set when two-time champion and No. 2 seed Kim Clijsters retired with an injury at 3-6 3-1 after 65 minutes of play. Bartoli, the first opponent Clijsters faced when she made her comeback from a two-year absence in 2009 at Cincinnati, had lost to the Belgian in their previous three career meetings.
“I wasn't serving with the same speed. I wasn't able to accelerate with my right arm, with my forehand,” said Clijsters. “At some point you're like, Okay, what do I do, knowing if I get through this match maybe it's gonna get worse and I'm not gonna play that next match, and there is no match in that next round? Or do I go for it?
“It's confusing, but I said, Look, just do what you think is best for yourself and don't worry about anybody else. That's obviously what I did, and tried to think, Okay, in the long run, what is the most important thing for me right now?”
The 27-year-old Clijsters had reached the final in her other three main draw appearances this season, winning the Australian
Open title in between runner-up showings in Sydney and Paris.
Tenth-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer went the distance to book her places in the quarter-finals, prevailing against fifth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4 3-6 7-6(3) after two hours and 46 minutes.
Peer is making her 10th visit to the desert and is through to the quarter-finals for the first time. She will play Belgian Yanina Wickmayer next after the No. 23 seed defeated Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 7-5. Cibulkova had upset No. 3 seed and 2009 champion Vera Zvonareva in the third round.
5 comments:
Schiavone likes long matches. She is one tough girl. Too bad she lost but is still in my good graces, why shouldn't she be, with performances like this just makes me want to give her a high five! It also adds to her legacy.
For the same reasons that I think The Big Stuffed Bunny will win, Wicki,Wicki,Wicki will advance.
Divapova defeated Dinara in straight sets. In the second set Divapova bageled Dinara.
Now for the ugly, I hope Sponge Bart Square Pants takes out The Fist Pumping Imbecile. All Sponge Bart have to do is win the first set and we can all watch The Fist Pumping Imbecile self destruct.
Haha Sponge Bart Square Pants did take out The Fist Pumping Imbecile in straights sets. Just a minor choke for Sponge Bart, she had a chance to close out the match, serving, being up 6-5 T.F.P.I was able to fend off and send the set to a tie break. Sponge Bart won the match in the tie break! So now is time for this phony, fake nice, unsportsmanlike conduct, imbecile, to pack her bags and get the hell out of So Cal. And don't let The Sunshine State's door hit your nalgas on your way out! :P
The nerd in me says, 'Finally we are beginning to see some normalcy in the Force'. :P
Before I forget, have a Happy St. Patrick's Day Captain!
Very happy my sponge bart held her nerve!
Now, Wicky Bartoli SF, I can be happy with who ever wins! Ahahah!
Thankyou Carlos, and to you too. I acctually forgot that it was St. Patrick's Day untill my friend was like "you rememberd this year?" I had no idea what she was on about, I just hapend to have green nail polish Ahaha.
Thank you Captain.
Here in the States people take it as a drinking holiday not as a religious holiday. Bars and pubs full of people in the mean time churches are empty. Go figure.
Interesting semifinal. I think nerves will prevail for both Wicki,Wicki,Wicki and Sponge Bart.
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