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Ivanovic sees off lucky loser
07/05/2008 16:09 - (SA)
Berlin - Defending champion Ana Ivanovic is through to the third round of the German Open after her straight sets win knocked out lucky loser Akgul Amanmuradova here on Wednesday.
Ivanovic, the world number two, was made to work hard especially in the first set when she was moved around the court by her opponent, ranked 65th in the world.
But after a tense opening period Ivanovic dominated the tie-break 7-0 and had few problems taking the second set 6-2.
Amanmuradova, from Uzbekistan, stepped in for Amelie Mauresmo late on Monday afternoon after the former world number one withdrew with a rib injury and the hard-hitting 23-year-old made the main draw as a lucky loser.
Having beaten France's Aravane Rezai in the first round 7-5 7-5, she gave Ivanovic a hard time with a good selection of shots with a powerful serve which tested the champion.
Ivanovic, 20, will now play Austria's Sybille Bammer in the third round.
Earlier in the day, fourth seed Jelena Jankovic booked her place in the last 16 with a straight sets win over Shuai Peng from China.
Having shaded the first set 7-5, Jankovic, fifth in the world, then powered her way past her Chinese opponent 6-0 in the second.
She is now on course to meet 2006 champion Nadia Petrova in the third round if the Russian beats her compatriot Maria Kirilenko in her second round tie.
Sixth-seed Anna Chakvetadze made a second round exit when she was beaten by Bulgarian Victoria Azarenka 1-6 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 in one of the few surprises of the day.
- AFP
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