Ana Ivanovic will take on the ‘Ultimate Challenge’; faces Serena Williams in quarters – US Open 2012
Former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, has finally found her winning groove at the US Open Championships in New York but she is yet to face the ultimate challenge in her upcoming battle. The 12th seeded Serb will take
on the American powerhouse, Serena Williams, in the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
30-year-old Williams has been absolutely unstoppable since her return to the professional circuit and has rocketed away to the world number four spot in no time. She has piled up five WTA championship titles, including the coveted
Wimbledon Championships title, and a gold medal at the London Olympics. She is riding a staggering 50-4 winning record for the season and her devastating form is feared by all opponents on the tennis court.
On the other hand, Ivanovic is yet to bag her maiden WTA title of the running season and has a 29-15 win-loss ratio. She has made it to the quarter-finals of the US Open this season but didn’t face a single seeded opponent en route
to the round of eight. She was given some real tough time by the American youngster, Sloane Stephens, in the third round but comfortably disposed off Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-0, 6-4, in her next match to meet Williams in the quarters.
The fourth seeded American has merely lost 12 games in her last four matches in the tournament. She completely annihilated Andrea Hlavackova with a double bagel in the fourth round to book a clash with Ivanovic.
Williams leads 3-0 against the Serbian diva and has outmuscled her in straight sets in every prior encounter. Ivanovic has faced Williams in 2006 and 2011 edition of the US Open Championships, failing badly on both occasions to
post any decent resistance. Her past record suggests that she stands no chance against the booming American veteran in the upcoming matchup but upsets are never known to occur in a tennis match.
"Every time I play her in particular she plays really well," Williams said of the Serbian opponent. "She goes for a lot of shots. She's a big hitter. And obviously having been No.1, having that Grand Slam under your belt, she knows
what it's like to win."
"She's obviously a great player and she's been the best out of all the girls on tour at the moment," Ivanovic said. "Her serve is definitely her strength. I have to be sharp from the first moment and stay aggressive and stay in
the moment. I've given myself opportunities in big matches recently and I've never managed to do it, so now I have another chance. I hope I can pull it together."
It will surely be a nail-biter when two of the former world number one players meet at the coveted Flushing Meadows Park but Williams is clearly favourite for winning in straight sets once again.
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