Sport | Tennis
Ana Ivanovic wins French Open women's final
Serbian Ana Ivanovic claimed her maiden grand slam title when she beat Russian 13th seed Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 in the French Open final on Saturday.
- Reuters
- Published: 18:30 June 7, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Serbian Ana Ivanovic wins the French Open final against Russia's Dinara Safina.
Paris: Serbian Ana Ivanovic claimed her maiden grand slam title when she beat Russian 13th seed Dinara Safina 6-4 6-3 in the French Open final on Saturday.
Last year's finalist Ivanovic, who will become world number one on Monday, converted three of her four break points to take the upper hand as both players struggled in their service games.
With just-retired, four-times champion Justine Henin watching from the stands, the second-seeded Ivanovic pushed Safina far behind her baseline and the Russian found herself trailing 4-1.
Safina, however, pulled a break back in the sixth game then held serve to love under threatening skies.
In the eighth game, she rallied from 0-40, winning five points in a row to level the contest but the 20-year-old Serbian went another break up.
After saving a break point with a flat-hit forehand, Ivanovic bagged the set on her second opportunity when Safina put a backhand long.
Ivanovic won a 26-stroke rally in the third game of the second set, taking the game on Safina's serve. She watched her opponent smash a racket on the red dirt and held serve.
Sport Editor's choice
-
Winning Desert Classic close to McIlroy's heart
Joint-leader draws inspiration from girlfriend's personal pursuit of perfection
-
Top teams hold on to their positions
Of the strugglers, Emirates continue their climb up the table after some superb performances while Sharjah drop
-
Staking a claim
Mendip bounces back to his best form to win middle leg of Al Maktoum Challenge
