MELBOURNE: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic made a shock early exit from the Australian Open on Tuesday, beaten in the first round by Russian Ekaterina Makarova in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.
The Serbian starlet looked on track for an easy win when she cruised through the first set, but from there on the Russian controlled the match as Ivanovic's mental frailties resurfaced.
Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion and a beaten finalist here in the same year, showed her fighting qualities by saving five match points in a marathon third set.
However, she never gained the upper hand and the 22-year-old Makarova finally closed it out with a forehand winner to break serve in the 18th game of a 91-minute decider.
It was a disappointing result for Ivanovic, who finished 2010 in strong fashion, winning two of her last three tournaments on the back of an improved fitness level and looked set to climb back up the rankings this year.
However, the 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from her final warm-up tournament for the first Grand Slam of the year when she suffered a stomach injury during the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth earlier this month.
While Ivanovic was left rueing yet another early Grand Slam exit, the 49th-ranked Makarova said it was the biggest win of her career, having been beaten by Ivanovic in straight sets at last year's US Open in their only previous meeting.
"I am so happy," she said. "It is the first time I played such a long match. She's an unbelievable player and it was really tough.
"I'm so happy I beat her."
Read more: Ivanovic bows out in Australian Open first round - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/australian-open-2011/top-stories/Ivanovic-bows-out-in-Australian-Open-first-round/articleshow/7311343.cms#ixzz1BNr6429V
The Serbian starlet looked on track for an easy win when she cruised through the first set, but from there on the Russian controlled the match as Ivanovic's mental frailties resurfaced.
Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion and a beaten finalist here in the same year, showed her fighting qualities by saving five match points in a marathon third set.
However, she never gained the upper hand and the 22-year-old Makarova finally closed it out with a forehand winner to break serve in the 18th game of a 91-minute decider.
It was a disappointing result for Ivanovic, who finished 2010 in strong fashion, winning two of her last three tournaments on the back of an improved fitness level and looked set to climb back up the rankings this year.
However, the 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from her final warm-up tournament for the first Grand Slam of the year when she suffered a stomach injury during the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth earlier this month.
While Ivanovic was left rueing yet another early Grand Slam exit, the 49th-ranked Makarova said it was the biggest win of her career, having been beaten by Ivanovic in straight sets at last year's US Open in their only previous meeting.
"I am so happy," she said. "It is the first time I played such a long match. She's an unbelievable player and it was really tough.
"I'm so happy I beat her."
Read more: Ivanovic bows out in Australian Open first round - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/australian-open-2011/top-stories/Ivanovic-bows-out-in-Australian-Open-first-round/articleshow/7311343.cms#ixzz1BNr6429V
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