By DPA
Melbourne : Ana Ivanovic shook the sleep out of her eyes as during a Monday morning match but awoke to beat Dane Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) to reach the Australian Open quarter finals.
“I’m thrilled to be through,” said the Serb, who needed two match points to advance over her 17-year-old opponent. “I played well at the beginning – then I got sleepy. I’m happy I could manage to finish in two sets.”
Ivanovic will play Tuesday against Venus Williams, who overcame a few niggles in beating Polish qualifier Marta Domachowska.
Williams stands 4-0 against Ivanovic. They last met in the fourth round of the US Open.
“She’s a big hitter and she likes to dominate the rallies. So it will be just important for me to stay there, stay with her, and still try to get that first shot,” said the 20-year-old Serb.
“I like to go for the big shots myself. I know I can do it, so it’s just a matter of fact I’m staying there with her and who can last longer.”
Wimbledon winner Williams played with a thigh strapping and came back from a break down in the opening set. The American also trailed 3-1 in the second before finally prevailing against the number 146, missing on a match point at one late stage.
Ivanovic promises to rise and shine for her upcoming encounter after feeling the early hours against Wozniacki.
“This was my first match, and I’d been used to sleeping in,” Ivanovic said. “Today I had to wake up early, so I went to bed last night at 10 pm with the babies. But I’m in good shape and feel ready.”
Wozniacki finished in the top 100 for the first time last season after a breakthrough semi-final at the Japan Open and was making her Australian Open main draw debut.
Agnieszka Radwanska saved face for Poland with her upset of Russian 14th seed Nadia Petrova 1-6, 7-5, 6-0.