Kirsten Flipkens crushes Ana Ivanovic to qualify for the semi-final – Generali Ladies Linz 2012
Ironically, the 66th ranked Belgian star, Kirsten Flipkens, ousted the former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, in the quarter-final of the Generali Ladies Linz on Friday. She trounced the 12th ranked Serb in
straight sets 6-4, 6-0 in just four minutes above an hour time.
Both players were locking horns after a gap of almost nine years; last time they played in the Wimbledon (juniors) contest and co-incidentally the-now 26-year-old Belgian defeated Ivanovic at that occurrence as well.
The opening set witnessed a terrific start with both players capitalizing on their serves in the initial stages before swapping breakpoints. However, the turning point of the set was the seventh game of the match that was won by
Flipkens. She broke her opponent’s serve to take a lead and protected it with a serve hold.
Ivanovic almost lost another breakpoint in the ninth game but kept the set alive courtesy some hard hitting. However, she couldn’t break serve back in the following game to stay alive in the set. The opening set was over in a flash
but an expected comeback was definitely on the cards.
The second set witnessed the most embarrassing moments of the Serb’s life. She won just 13 points from the total of 41; failed to create any breakpoint and played terribly. Flipkens won three breakpoints in a row and made no mistake
on her serve to book a date with the German superstar, Julia Goerges.
At the end of the contest, Flipkens unleashed her strategy by stating, “It was a tough match to start because I know Ana is a great player, No.12 in the world, but I had nothing to lose. I knew I had to put pressure on her from
the first ball, the serve and the return, and I had to use my slice a lot today to break the rhythm too.”
She further added, “I had to play qualies this week too but I think this was my best match of the week. I'm still feeling healthy and fit and I'm very happy to be through.”
Talking about her opponent in the semis, Flipkens commented, “Goerges is a nice opponent, a great player." The match will begin on the eve Saturday.
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