Second-Seeded Ivanovic Shocked by Flipkens in Germany

October 12, 2012 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens won 11 of 12 games from 3-1 down in the first set to score the biggest upset of the Generali Ladies Linz event in Germany, upsetting the second-seeded Ana Ivanovic, 6-4, 6-0. Flipkens now has four career top 20 wins, one in 2010 over Aravane Rezai at Luxembourg, and three in 2012 (Sam Stosur, Dominika Cibulkova and now Ivanovic).

"I started off really well and felt I was in control at the beginning, then I just lost my rhythm," Ivanovic said. "She was playing very well today. I started to try going closer to the lines, but started making more errors, and then I started struggling on my serve too. My serve went more down as the match went on."

Also advancing was the top-seeded Victoria Azarenka, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Petra Martic, her 65th match win of the year. Azarenka will take on either qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands or lucky loser Irina-Camelia Begu in the semifinals.

Flipkens will meet Julia Goerges in the other semifinals match after a 6-1, 6-4 win over Sofia Arvidsson. Goerges and Flipkens are tied in their head-to-head series at one victory apiece.

"Goerges is a nice opponent, a great player," Flipkens said. "I’ve known her for a couple of years but it’s been a long time since we’ve played each other, so I’m just going to do my best and I hope we have a nice match tomorrow."

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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