UPDATE 6.20pm: Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic has dug deep to book a potential Brisbane International final showdown with fellow former world No.1 Maria Sharapova.
Second seed Ivanovic finally overcame the United States’ Varvara Lepchenko to seal a 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 semifinal win at Pat Rafter Arena on Friday, needing seven match points to get past the determined lefty.
Ivanovic stumbled in the first set against a determined Lepchenko. The American, who shocked Sam Stosur in the first round, twice served for the opening set, only to be denied.
The former French Open champion then led 5-1 in the second before Lepchenko launched a comeback of her own.
“Definitely your heart was raising a little bit, especially that it was really becoming a battle. Like I said, all the way up to that point, even though I was 5-1 up, still felt like a battle all the way through,” Ivanovic said.
“I really tried to take it one point at a time and do the things that I’ve been working on and practising and try not think too much about the result.”
In the end, Ivanovic converted her seventh match point to finally overpower the world No.34 in a clash lasting almost two hours.
She battled an abdominal twinge during the match but shrugged off any serious injury concerns post-match.
“It’s just a bit sore. First tournament of the season you’re always going to get a little bit of pains and niggles here and there,” she said.
“That’s why recovery is really important. Last night was really quick turnaround, and now I’ll have a little bit more time for rest and recovery.”
Ivanovic will play the winner of Friday night’s semifinal between top seed Sharapova and Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.
She met the Russian four times for four losses in 2014 – the duo also played in the Australian Open final in 2008 where Sharapove triumphed in straight sets.
“I remember that match, you know, very vividly. I felt like I had a lot of chances in the first set. It was my second Grand Slam final and I really thought I could do it, you know,” Ivanovic said.
“It was quite disappointing the way second set finish. I remember it was 6-2. I didn’t really sleep much after that, you know.
“That was a tough loss, but it made me stronger.”