Serbia's Ana Ivanovic defeated American eighth seed Venus Williams in
straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-4 to reach the Australian Open semifinals today.
She will face No. 9 seed Slovakian Deniela Hantuchova who trounced Polish
Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2 earlier Wednesday.
Ivanovic came out hot and broke Williams to go up 2-0 but the veteran
American broke back in the next.
Neither could hold serve in the following games and they sent the first set
to a tiebreak. Williams saved a set point at 6-3 but netted a return to give
Ivanovic the set.
Williams, who is trying to add the Australian Open trophy to her seven Grand
Slam titles, broke early in the second set and led at 3-0.
However, Ivanovic came back strongly, holding serve and breaking back to make
it 5-4.
Williams had two break points in the 10th game, but Ivanovic still defended
her serve and claimed the final victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
