Sony Ericsson Open: Kim Clijsters vs. Ana Ivanovic – Preview
World number two Kim Clijsters of Belgium takes on the 19th ranked Serb, Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open at Miami, Florida on Monday night. An epic battle is projected as the two top class competitors encounter to book
a berth in the quarter-final of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) event.
The second seed Belgian advanced to the round of 16 after winning a stiff contest against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Ivanovic meets Clijsters after the Serb’s third round opponent, Virginie Razzano of France forfeited during
the third set of the contest due to a thigh strain.
Winner of 41 WTA titles, Clijsters went to the top spot of women’s rankings this year after winning her fourth Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. Her sublime form in the running year has been very impressive and she is eyeing to clinch the
42nd WTA title of her career at Miami. Clijsters is defending her title at the Sony Ericsson Open, which she won last year by ending the fifteen match unbeaten streak of Venus Williams in the final.
Immediately after her successful Australian Open campaign, the second ranked Belgian advanced to the final of Open GDF Suez in Paris but had to face a straight sets defeat at the hands of the third seed Petra Kvitova. She didn’t take part in WTA event at
Dubai and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark toppled her over to regain the top spot in women’s ratings. Clijsters took part in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells a fortnight ago and reached the fourth round before she had to forfeit her match against Marion
Bartoli due to her shoulder injury. The Belgian had been battling with her persistent shoulder injury even before the Australian Open.
Ivanovic had an average start to the current WTA season, as she was ejected in the first round of the Australian Open by Ekaterina Makarova. She then reached the quarter-finals of the PTT Pattaya Open, only to be beaten by Roberta Vinci. After an early ejection
from the Dubai International Championships, the Serb withdrew from the Qatar Ladies Open as well. The most recent tournament she participated was the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells where she lost in her second quarter-final of the year by Marion Bartoli
of France.
The two competitors won their opening matches at the Sony Ericsson Open with the utmost ease but had to battle out against their opponents in the third round. The point of concern for the Belgian is the huge number of unforced errors she spilled out in her
third round match against Sanchez. Clijsters conceded 39 unforced errors and 10 double faults in her most recent contest but still managed to manoeuvre through the match to take victory. The second seed needs to rectify her mistakes immediately if she desires
any success against a strong competitor like Ivanovic.
Clijsters leads the head-to-head series against the Serb 4-0 and will certainly like to extend her record by booking a spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament. Ivanovic has never defeated Clijsters in a singles match before but it might be her chance
to turn the tables on the injured Belgian and improve her individual record against her. Surely it will be an enthralling game of tennis to watch.
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