By Erik Gudris | Saturday, June 14, 2014

 

Top seed Ana Ivanovic is all smiles having reached her first ever grass court final at the Aegon Classic.

Photo Credit: Christopher Levy

Ana Ivanovic is one win away from her first career grass court title at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.

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Despite being on tour for over ten years, Ivanovic had never reached a grass court final until Saturday. She achieved that after a straight sets semifinal win over No. 9 seed Zhang Shuai of China.

Though Zhang started with an early break, Ivanovic soon took control of the match. Reeling off six straight games, Ivanovic clinched the set 6-2. Ivanovic broke Zhang in the second set for 2-0 and never looked back.

After just 57 minutes, Ivanovic completed the 6-2, 6-2 win. Birmingham is now Ivanovic's fourth final of the year.

Ivanovic, who has yet to drop a set all week, is playing some of her best tennis ever on a surface that has troubled her in the past.

“I mean it would mean a lot for me to have title on grass.” Ivanovic said later to the event's website. “It’s been - not to mention my age - but ten years on tour and I have never won a title on grass. That would definitely be something special.”

Waiting for Ivanovic will be another player competing in their first ever grass court final.

No. 16 seed Casey Dellacqua of Australia faced off against Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second semifinal.

Zahlavova Strycova, currently ranked No. 62 in the world, led 1-all in the opening set before rain interrupted play. When it resumed, Dellacqua managed to pull ahead for 5-4 before yet another rain delay stopped proceedings.

Once the match got back underway, Zahlavova Strycova fought back and soon forced a tiebreak. The Czech would soon win the set 7-6(5). With momentum on her side,

Zahlavova Strycova raced away with the second set and the match eventually winning 7-6(5), 6-1.

Birmingham is her first career final on grass. Zahlavova Strycova has one singles title to her credit at Quebec City in 2011.