Last week at Stanford Ana Ivanovic played her first match since Wimbledon and her first since partnering with coach Nigel Sears and lost to Ayumi Morita 6-3 7-5. Ivanovic blamed nerves for the early loss and said she was trying to impress her new coach.
At her very next tournament Ivanovic’s opening match happened to be against the same opponent and the 23-year-old didn’t repeat the disappointment. She came back from 5-0 down in the second set to advance to the third round of the Mercury Insurance Open. It was the first time in Ivanovic’s career that she has done so. Let’s also mention that Ivanovic’s comeback took place after her on-court consultations with Sears. Final score: 6-1 7-6(5).
Alberta Brianti will be Ivanovic’s opponent in the third round. Brianti upset tenth-seeded Flavia Pennetta in the first round. (photo: sr_cranks)
