Ana Ivanovic upsets Shuai Peng; progresses into semi-final – Mercury Insurance Open 2011
Ana Ivanovic upset fourth seed Shuai Peng in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 victory on the 5th of August 2011 in the quarter-final of Mercury Insurance Open at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, California.
Amidst the first set; both the players had struck a line fault each but the former world number 1 (Ivanovic) hit an ace, while her Chinese opponent (Peng) threw one extra ace than her.
Even though, Ivanovic’s defence was unstable and she gave a single break point advantage to her Chinese opponent, she was able to capitalize on 40% of her opponent’s break points she faced. Whilst, The Chinese defence was much
stronger, enabling her to save 60% of her break points.
The No. 5 (Ivanovic) seed won 19 of 30 service points making it a commendable sixty three percent win; however, it was only 3% more than Peng’s 60%. Ivanovic had won an average forty percent return points, thus giving her a total
fifty two percent win to outsmart Peng.
Initially, Ivanovic was slow out of the blocks and was down 1-4 but she bounced back to take the lead.
Following her victory in the first set, she said, "At the beginning I was pushing a little bit, trying not to make a mistake, trying to place the ball rather than just committing and hitting it but then I started swinging a lot
more and it made a difference. I still made some mistakes I can improve, but overall I was really, really happy from 4-1 on."
By the second set of the match, the Serbian was on fire, she was able to smash three aces, commit zero double faults along with succeeding in attaining an exceptional eighty one percent win against the 25-year-old Chinese in her
total serve points.
The 23-year-old (Ivanovic) did not permit her opponent a sole chance to break her as she was able to save the two break points and instead broke her Chinese opponent twice. While, the 25-year-old (Peng) failed to avail any break
points, she was experienced enough to save fifty percent of her break points.
The Serb (Ivanovic) accomplished thirty five percent more of total return points than Peng’s and achieved sixty six percent of total points, hence giving her 2-0 lead.
The No. 5 seed Ivanovic, had reached her career high ranking of singles on the 9th of June in 2008, which was world number 1. Currently she is ranked 18 as of August 2011, while Peng holds the 17th position in the world.
Ivanovic will face the number one seed Vera Zvonareva for a spot in the final of the Mercury Open 2011.
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