Despite a faltering serve and a struggle with the elements, Ana Ivanovic found enough of her old magic on Court Philippe Chatrieron Tuesday to revive memories of her best days here seven and eight years ago, when she was runner-up and then champion. Now only Lucie Safarova stands between her and another final.
On a warm and windy day, she beat the rising Ukrainian Elina Svitolina – coached by Iain Hughes, a friend of Andy Murray’s – 6-3, 6-2 in just an hour and a quarter to reach her first French Open semi-final since 2008, when she went on to beat Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3 in the final. That was a year after she lost in the final to Justine Henin in two painfully quick sets, 6-1, 6-2.
The Serb was hitting a peak back then as a teenager – reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2007 and the final in Melbourne the following January – that inspired good judges to predict great things for her but the player’s career did not quite take off.
“I was always very shy, and for me it was very hard to have that much attention,” Ivanovic told the New York Times last year. She went 17 slams without getting past the fourth round and her ranking tumbled.
Ivanovic, only 27, is seeded No7 here and in excellent form. “I don’t know if I should feel really old or really happy,” she said courtside.
Later she recalled the joy of her victory in 2008: “I do remember that feeling, and I’m just so thrilled. You can’t take any victory for granted, let alone a quarter-final. It’s been a long time. I know the feeling and the emotions – and winning on Philippe Chatrier, it means a lot to me. I’m very humbled.”
This was Ivanovic’s first quarter-final at a slam since she lost to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada at the Australian Open last year and, if she goes all the way in the absence of the beaten Maria Sharapova and with the world No1 Serena Williams wobbling, she has possibilities.
Ivanovic served out the first set comfortably, as Svitolina failed to control the wind, with a wild forehand for 30-0 and an overcooked backhand, the last shot of the frame. Despite three double faults in the second set, as many as she had in the first, Ivanovic was always in control.
With her boyfriend Bastian Schweinsteiger, the Germany midfielder and World Cup winner, watching from the stands, she took her third match point after an hour and a quarter with a cross-court forehand of such elegance and certainty it was hard to believe she has been away so long.
Waiting for her in the semi-finals on Thursday will be the Czech Safarova, who put out Sharapova on Monday and, on Tuesday was too strong for the Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza, winning 7-6, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Muguruza’s serve did not cope with the wind and she hit five double faults, as well as 29 unforced errors in a tight, seesawing contest that lasted nearly two hours. She saved six of eight break points but could not hold Safarova at bay in the second set.
Safarova also is feeling the tide of emotion of getting this far. “I could not sleep last night,” she said, “so I was a little tired in the morning.” The adrenaline, though, will be back by Thursday.
