Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic Set To Battle At 2011 Sony Ericsson Open

Kim Clijsters

Two of the biggest stars of the WTA are set for a fourth round showdown as Kim Clijsters and Ana Ivanovic will meet at the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open. Kim is the much higher ranked player and were she 100% I would easily pick her to win. But she looked shaky in her 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Her serve was especially suspect. Even in the games where Kim held, Maria was pushing her to 30 and deuce much more often than I would expect. Kim notched her 500th career victory, but it was a struggle.

“The way she played, she reminded me a little bit of a girl I played at the Australian Open, Cornet,” Clijsters said. “She had a really flat backhand and a forehand she hit with more topspin. It’s always hard when you have a player who plays two totally different shots on each side. You have to be ready to move and adjust all the time. A couple of times my footwork wasn’t right and I wasn’t playing how I should have been, but I’m happy I was able to move through.”

Ana Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic was in the middle of her own three set battle with Virginie Razzano when Razzano withdrew with a thigh strain injury. Ana was up in the third 2-6 6-2 3-0 when the match was forfeit. This is a great opportunity for Ana. Beating Kim, even a less than 100% Kim, would mark a significant victory in her continuing rise back to hopefully the top 10 at least. It won’t be easy, but if Ana can serve well and look for opportunities to attack Kim’s serve, as Martinez Sanchez did, then an upset is very much possible. Ana has never beaten Kimmie, but there is a first time for everything.