Last eight spot for Ivanovic

Sep 3 2012

Ana Ivanovic reached her first grand slam quarter-final since winning the French Open in 2008 with a straight-sets victory over Tsvetana Pironkova at the US Open on Monday.

The Serb was expected to remain at the top of the game for many years after her triumph at Roland Garros but instead injuries and a crisis of confidence sent her tumbling back down the rankings.

She has been close to the last eight at a number of tournaments since without getting there but this time there was no stopping Ivanovic as she clinched a 6-0 6-4 win in an hour and 11 minutes.

Pironkova had lengthy treatment on her neck at the end of the first set and fought hard in the second but could not take the match into a decider.

Ivanovic is now likely to meet Serena Williams, who she has never taken a set off in three previous meetings, including in the fourth round here last year.