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By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, September 17, 2014

 
Ivanovic Tokyo 2014

Ana Ivanovic held off Victoria Azarenka in the final game to advance into the WTA Tokyo quarterfinals.

Photo Credit: AP

Top seed Angelique Kerber and Ana Ivanovic both advanced into the Toray Pan Pacific quarterfinals in Tokyo, Japan.

Kerber, still seeking her first title of the season, held off a determined Elina Svitolina in their second round match. Gaining hold of a service break in each set, Kerber defeated Svitolina 6-4, 6-4.

The marquee match of the day took place earlier between No. 3 seed Ana Ivanovic and Victoria Azarenka. Even with Azarenka's recent struggles due to her comback from an extended injury break, many thought this match could go the distance.

Ivanovic broke Azarenka early in the opening set and soon held a 3-0 lead. But Azarenka, pressuring the Serbian during her next service game, would force Ivanovic to double fault. That allowed Azarenka to get back on serve for 2-3.

Ivanovic, looking steadier and more confident, would go on to break again, claiming the set 6-3 with help from an Azarenka return error.

The second set looked to be all in favor of Ivanovic when she broke Azarenka in the opening game. Taking hold of a 3-0 lead, Ivanovic looked poised to run away with it.

Azarenka had other ideas though as she got back on level terms for 3-all. The back and forth set swung back to Ivanovic's favor as she denied Azarenka a game point and then broke for 4-3.

Keeping hold of her advantage, the Serb soon served for the match at 5-4.

Ivanovic's final service game proved anything but routine. Going up one match point, Ivanovic saw it erased by an Azarenka volley winner. Azarenka had several break point chances, yet Ivanovic fought them off to earn a second match point.

With a final big serve, Ivanovic closed out the 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Ivanovic will next face Lucie Safarova who earlier beat Belinda Bencic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

 

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