Birmingham Open: Ivanovic conquers grasscourt gremlins

Serbian defeats Zahlavova-Strycova 6-3, 6-2 at Birmingham Open.

BIRMINGHAM: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic won her first-ever tournament on the grasscourt with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova at the Birmingham Open on Sunday.

The consistency of her triumph made it appear surprising as to why it has taken the 26-year-old from Serbia almost a decade to achieve the landmark.

The top-seeded Ivanovic did not drop a set throughout the tournament, and in the final, she took only 73 minutes to down Strycova, an unseeded Czech playing in her first final in a Premier level event.

Ivanovic’s victory was as much over herself, and her inner doubts, as a valiant but outplayed opponent.

“You’re waiting for such a result and now it comes and I’m very happy, but I didn’t expect it,” said Ivanovic.

When asked how she managed to win at last on grass, she said: “The biggest challenge for me at the moment is to be okay with not playing a perfect game, not playing a perfect shot.

“Even when opponents play well, it’s very important for me not to dwell on it, but just accept it, move on, and try to do my best for each point.”

For the second day in succession Ivanovic started indifferently, dropping serve immediately, and for the second day in succession she emerged without drifting into longer-term trouble.

Later, Ivanovic was asked if she felt like a Grand Slam champion.  “I think I do,” said the former French Open winner.  “I have it in me, I know.  It’s still very hard work.  I know that. So I have to just prove to myself that I belong back there.  Winning titles like this definitely helps.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2014.

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