Sharapova sent crashing by Ivanovic
Serbian to face top-seed Serena Williams in Cincinnati final after beating French Open champion in three sets.
Ana Ivanovic shocked French Open champion Maria Sharapova to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open where she will face top-ranked Serena Williams.
Although Williams has dominated Ivanovic her entire career – having taken six of seven matches versus Ivanovic – the American was beaten in the round-of-16 at this year’s Australian Open.
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Ivanovic, seeking her fourth title this year, looked headed for sure victory after breezing through the first set and then opening up a 4-0 edge in the second for what seemed like an insurmountable lead, winning 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
“I really got a little tight,” Ivanovic said about her second set meltdown. “I wasn’t moving my feet forward enough and played a little passive. But she’s a champion and was fighting so well. I just had to regroup in the third set, and I’m so glad I could win this match tonight.”
Williams, meanwhile, rallied past Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, overcoming a a sluggish start to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The Cincinnati tournament is the last of the key tune-ups ahead of the US Open where Williams will defend her crown.
“I got off to a little bit of a slow start, but I was definitely in it,” said Williams, who lost the 2013 Cincinnati title in a third set tie-break to Victoria Azarenka. “I was just physically grinding and trying to get in there and really just trying to grind out everything.”