Cincinnati Open: Serena Williams survives Ana Ivanovic scare

Cincinnati: Defending champion Serena Williams swept the last six games to overhaul Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Cincinnati Open on Saturday, in a repeat of the 2014 final won by the American. Her next opponent will be Ukrainian 14th seed Elina Svitolina, who upset Lucie Safarova 6-4, 2-6, 6-0.

 

Serena said that after playing on the backfoot in the first set, she raised her game to post her ninth victory in 10 meetings over the former Roland Garros champion from Serbia. 

In the men’s section, World No.1 Novak Djokovic brushed aside Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

 

The top-seeded Serb breezed past Wawrinka with little difficulty in just over an hour, winning 6-4, 6-1 to avenge his defeat in the French Open final.