15 Aug 2010

Ivanovic sets up semi-final showdown with Clijsters

7:06 am on 15 August 2010

Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic will meet Kim Clijsters in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals after progressing along with Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Ivanovic, the former world number one, looked in-form and confident, comfortably defeated Uzbeki qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova 6-1 6-3 to reach her second semi-final of the year.

The Belgian Clijsters, who is preparing to defend her U.S. Open crown later this month, was pushed all the way by 11th seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta in the first set before clinching it 7-6 then took the second 6-4 to win the match.

Pavlyuchenkova displayed the temperament of a veteran as she beat Belgian 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer 7-5 3-6 6-1.

Pavlyuchenkova, who has won nine straight matches having triumphed in Istanbul earlier this month, will play the winner of the match between compatriot Maria Sharapova and France's Marion Bartoli.