• AEGON Classic

Ivanovic serves up mixed bag in semi-final defeat

Ana Ivanovic lost in three sets to Daniela Hantuchova © Getty Images

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Ana Ivanovic succumbed to a typically erratic battle with her own serve as she missed out on a place in the final of the AEGON Classic on Saturday.

Ivanovic, playing in her first WTA Tour semi-final for eight months, mixed aces with double-faults in an entertaining battle with Daniela Hantuchova. In the end, it was the Serbian's constant unforced errors that made the difference as she exited the competition 6-7(2) 6-3 6-2.

Hantuchova raced out of the blocks in Birmingham, breaking in the first game against an Ivanovic serve that would cough up five double-faults in the first set alone. The Slovakian could not build on her lead though, and by the fourth game it was she who was behind as Ivanovic strung together consecutive breaks for 3-1.

A tiebreak was necessary to decide the set as Hantuchova levelled, but when Ivanovic's serve was on target it was telling - producing 16 aces in the match, and she waltzed through the breaker.

Unfortunately for Ivanovic, those aces came at the cost of nine double-faults, the equivalent of just over two free games, and in a tighter second set, Hantuchova dealt better with the fine margins to claim the only break and restore parity in the contest at one set all.

It went to a decider, which was momentarily disturbed by a rain interval, and when the pair returned there was only one player who found her groove. Ivanovic's first serve functioned at less than 50 per cent success rate, as it did throughout the contest, and Hantuchova broke twice to book her place in the final.

The Slovakian now faces Sabine Lisicki, who beat third seed Shuai Peng 6-3 6-1.

At the Sony Ericsson Open in Copenhagen, Caroline Wozniacki dropped just three games as she advanced to the final on Saturday. The Dane, opting to play a hard-court tournament rather than preparing for Wimbledon on grass, will be full of confidence after a 6-1 6-2 triumph over Mona Barthel.

She will play fourth seed Lucie Safarova in the final after the Czech defeated Petra Martic 1-6 6-4 6-2.

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