Rusty Ivanovic Wards Off Gutsy Challenge on Day One

Twelve months ago, Paris had embraced her as the Queen of red dirt. Twelve months later, the Serbian sensation Ana Ivanovic returned to the scene of her greatest triumph, but only as a pale shadow of her former self.

Plagued by continuing unsuccessful results on the Tour since her maiden Grand Slam victory and most recently a knee injury, her woes got reflected as she opened the proceedings at Court Philippe Chatrier on Day One of the French Open.

Drawn to play World No. 44 Italian Sara Errani in the first round, it was not at all a convincing performance from the former World No.1 as she struggled to ward off the aggressive challenge from the gutsy Italian.

Up 3-1 in the first set she allowed the Italian to crawl back as she continued to dump easy volleys into the net.

The serve let her down as she committed seven double faults and 38 unforced errors with just 46 winners and managed to convert a meagre five out of twenty break point opportunities.

The determination however kept her going as she steered the first set to a tie-break and played some stinging forehand winners and finally clinched it after 72 minutes of gritty play from both players.

The second set, however, saw a much more confident Ivanovic as she upped the intensity with brilliant forehand returns, beautiful passes, angular backhands and kept the errors to a minimum.

Breaking Errani twice she raced to a 5-2 lead, when nerves faltered as she served for the match.

However, the opportunity was back in her favour in the very next game, as she broke Errani for the third time and won the match 7-6(3), 6-3 on her third match point with a laser-sharp forehand which Errani failed to return.

Ivanovic will next face the winner of the match between Camille Pin and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

An improvement in the Serbian’s game is imperative otherwise her chances of title defense at Paris look very bleak at the moment.