The trademark fist punch finally returned for top seed Ana Ivanovic after Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci threatened to deliver a stunning second-round knockout at the Brisbane International on Wednesday night.
A shellshocked Ivanovic was forced to save two match points in the second set after world No.82 Vinci came out swinging at Pat Rafter Arena.
The former world No.1 was also kept honest by several dubious line calls in the second set, prompting spirited debate with chair umpire Gabriela Zaloga of Poland.
But a “mentally tougher” Ivanovic eventually regained her composure – and that trademark winning fist pump – to finally overpower a fading Vinci 6-7 7-5 6-1 in a clash that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours.
It provided welcome relief for organisers who had witnessed the men’s top seed – fellow Serb Novak Djokovic – sensationally crash out in the first round on Tuesday.
The reigning French Open champion was in all sorts of trouble trailing by a set and a break in the second set.
World No.5 Ivanovic is one of the tour’s fittest competitors after a gruelling off-season regime.
But the 21-year-old glamour girl cited her newfound mental toughness for pulling her through and booking a Thursday quarterfinal showdown with former world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo.
“I definitely feel mentally tougher,” the Serbian glamour girl said.
“I went through a lot last year, both good and bad.
“When you get through tough times it makes you stronger. That definitely happened to me – I feel much stronger coming back this year.”
The 2008 Australian Open runner-up also tried to make light of her second set blow up with Zaloga as the match seemingly looked to be slipping through her manicured fingers.
“It was tough, but it happens and it works both ways, what goes around comes around – I just tried to stay positive,” she said.
“Actually once when I was younger I played an exhibition when first I was a linesman then I started playing tennis – I realised how hard it is to see the ball, so I don’t blame them that much.”
It booked a tantalising clash with Mauresmo who came back from 5-2 down in the third set to prevail over French compatriot Julie Coin 5-7 6-2 7-6(11) in a three hour, 14 minute marathon on Wednesday.
Ivanovic was broken in the fifth game of the match but saved four set points in the ninth before breaking back in the 10th.
However, Vinci, 25, went on to force a tiebreak and win it 7-4 to take a set off Ivanovic for the first time in their three meetings to date.
Alarm bells were ringing for Ivanovic, 21, when she was broken in the fourth game of the second and forced to save two match points in the 10th.
But she turned the tables to break in the 11th and served out the second set to clinch it 7-5 in 58 minutes.
The third set was all one way traffic as Ivanovic won the first five games against a tiring Vinci.
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