Former champion Ana Ivanovic was at
her brilliant, aggressive best as the seventh seed swept aside Ukraine's
Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-2 on Tuesday to storm into the French Open
semi-finals.
The Serb, who
lifted the Suzanne Lenglen Cup in 2008, shrugged off the windy
conditions to set up a meeting with Spain's Garbine Muguruza or Czech
Lucie Safarova.
Ivanovic took control early on and never allowed her 19th-seeded opponent into the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier.
She put an
end to a one-sided encounter on her third match point with a forehand
passing shot to reach the last four of a grand slam for the first time
since 2008.
"I don't know if I should feel old or happy," the 27-year-old told a courtside interviewer.
"The only thing I could do was stay calm. The ball was going all over the place."
Her
powerful forehand earned Ivanovic the first break as she went 2-0 up
only for the Serb, under the watchful eye of her boyfriend, Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, to drop serve in the following game.
She then broke again for 3-1.
The
sun crept through and the spectators came back from their late lunch to
watch Ivanovic clinch the opener by holding serve to love.
Ball
girls and boys wiped their teary eyes as strong winds sent the red dirt
swirling at the change of ends before Ivanovic resumed her domination.
She
stole Svitolina's serve in the first game and saw off two break points
en route to holding for 2-0. She broke again for 5-2 and finished it off
on her serve
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