Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic won the ASB Classic 2014 title on Saturday after she defeated Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. It was a battle amongst former world number ones and Grand Slam champions.
Ivanovic, currently ranked higher than Williams, lags behind in their head to head series at 1-8 which makes the latter a heavy favorite to win.
“It’s amazing,” Ivanovic said. “Coming into this week I didn’t really have any expectations. I didn’t even think about making the finals or winning it. I just tried my best, and I felt very comfortable here.
“Today was a great match. Venus is always very tough – she’s a great champion and showed that again today. I’m just happy that after losing that second set I managed to stay calm and close it out.”
“Today for me it was all about fighting, because I didn’t feel I was playing my best,” Williams said. “I fought as hard as I could no matter what the score was, but I just ran into a better player today.”
This is Ivanovic’s 12th career WTA title and her first since winning the Tournament of Champions title back during the conclusion of the 2011 season in Bali, Indonesia.
“Every victory is special, this one even more so because it’s been a while since I’ve won a tournament,” Ivanovic said. “I’ve worked really hard for this and many times I’ve been in a position to win another title, so to come through in a final like this against such a good player is obviously a great feeling.”
The doubles event was won by Sharon Fichman and Maria Sanchez.
