Ivanovic eases past tricky Watson at Luxembourg Open

Sport360 staff 00:24 21/10/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Ana Ivanovic won the Luxembourg Open in 2007.

    Former champion Ana Ivanovic is through to the second round of the BGL Luxembourg Open after defeating Britain's Heather Watson 6-4 6-3.

    – #360view: Dole is the No 1 but how long can he sustain it?
    – Mubadala: Ferrer becomes latest star name to sign up

    Ivanovic, winner of the event in 2007, secured an early break to lead 2-0 but the British number two immediately pulled it level, only to lose her serve again in the next game on the way to dropping the opening set.

    Watson saved a couple of break points to hold serve and get herself on the board in the fifth game of the second set at 4-1 and then rallied by breaking the Serb to make it 5-3.

    At 40-0 up on her own serve Watson looked like moving to within a game of her opponent, but she imploded with three double faults to hand the match to the number two seed.

    The other two seeds in action on Tuesday also progressed, with third seed Sara Errani coming from a set and a break down to beat French qualifier Julie Coin 5-7 6-4 6-1 and Barbora Strycova, seeded seven, overcoming Yanina Wickmayer 6-4 6-2.

    Swiss wildcard Stefanie Voegele, ranked 165 in the world, was leading 6-3 4-0 against Urszula Radwanska when her Polish opponent retired injured, while Alison Van Uytvanck, Johanna Larsson and Denisa Allertova also made it through to the second round.

    Recommended