World number one and defending champion Serena Williams is now just a win away from winning the Italian Open 2014 title after eliminating former top-ranked Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Ivanovic has been making remarkable strides lately and she also ousted Maria Sharapova this week. Her run this week means the Serbian is now just a stones throw away from making a return in the world’s top 10.
“She played really well in the second set and at the same time my first serve percentage dropped. She’s a great returner, so she put me under a lot of pressure because of that,” Williams said. “I lost my concentration a little bit, so at the start of the third set I just tried to get really pumped, keep myself focused and pretty much do everything to play my best tennis.”
Williams will next face Sara Errani of Italy for the title on Sunday. Errani became the first Italian player in 29 years to reach this far at the Foro Italico.
“I think that she’s improved immensely, even in just the last two weeks,” Williams said about Errani. “She’s taken her game to another level and has a lot of confidence having beaten two really good Top 10 players. I have a lot of work to do to beat her and she also has nothing to lose.”
