Top seed Ana Ivanovic had been on the verge of defeat by Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci in the second round of the Brisbane International, before reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-7(4) 7-5 6-1 win. Ivanovic had to save match points in this encounter that lasted more than two and a half hours.

The world No.82 Vinci broke Ivanovic’s serve in the fifth game, and had a set point at 5-4. The Roland Garros champion Ivanovic managed to level, but eventually lost the set in the tiebreak.

In the second set, Vinci was again the first one to break her opponent’s serve, for a 3-1 lead. Even though Ivanovic broke back immediately, she was still struggling and faced two match points when serving at 4-5, 15-40. The 21-year-old Serb saved both, won nine of the remaining ten games, and with them the match.

"I'm glad I hung in there to the end and believed in myself," said Ivanovic. "I just kept thinking about all the hard work I put in during the last few weeks and I didn't want to lose here this early."

Ana Ivanovic will face fifth seed Amelie Mauresmo in the Brisbane International quarterfinals, which will be their eighth career meeting. Mauresmo advanced by beating fellow Frenchwoman Julie Coin 5-7 6-2 7-6(11). (source: Ana Ivanovic's official website, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Ana Ivanovic and her boyfriend Fernando Verdasco were playing matches one after the other at the Brisbane International’s Monday night session and here’s what they said on watching each other play when they are at the same tournament.

Verdasco’s viewpoint:

I think that when we are in the tournaments we are working and we are doing our jobs.  We are here now to play the tournament, not to be (spending) time together, or stay like a normal couple. So I will try and she will try her best in the tournaments and then after the tournament we will have time together, maybe.

Hmm, maybe? Read more »

Top seed Ana Ivanovic opened her 2009 season with a straight-set victory over Petra Kvitova in the first round of the Brisbane International.

The 21-year-old Serb was too strong for her Czech opponent, and scored a comfortable 6-4 6-2 win.

It was Ivanovic's first match since she split with Sven Groenefeld, the coach who took her to 2008 Roland Garros title.

World No.5 Ivanovic will next face Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci. (sources: Sporting Life, couriermail)

Jelena Dokic showed more than a glimpse of the form that once took her to No.4 in the world, but still failed to convert several chances and fell to Amelie Mauresmo 7-6(9) 7-6(5) in a tense first-round match at the Brisbane International.

Jelena Dokic, currently ranked 179th, twice served for the first set and also had several set points in a long tiebreak which Mauresmo eventually won 11-9. In the second set, France's Mauresmo served for the match, but Dokic fought back and forced another tiebreak, poised at 5-all before the 25-year-old wildcard conceded it with two errors.

"It hurts knowing I had those chances against her," Dokic said.

"If I got blown away maybe it wouldn't hurt so much."

It’s interesting to note that Dokic hit 31 winners, compared to Mauresmo’s seven. However, Dokic was leading in unforced errors, too – she made 33 to Mauresmo’s six.

In other matches on Monday three seeded players were upset. Fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova fell to Sara Errani 6-7 6-4 6-0, eighth seed Francesca Schiavone was defeated by Olga Govortsova 7-5 6-2, while seed No.9 Ai Sugiyama lost to Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-3. (source: Fox Sports, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Jelena Dokic has been given a wildcard to the Brisbane International which starts January 4, as a reward for her current good form and support for her comeback.

Former Top 5 player Dokic earned a wildcard into the Australian Open last weekend, after playing six matches in seven days at Melbourne Park.

"Dokic showed she still has what it takes last week at the Australian Open playoff," Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles said on Tuesday.

"She is hitting the ball crisply and is regaining form and will be a real contender at the Brisbane International."

World No.178 Dokic spent most of 2008 regaining form on the second tier circuit. (source: The Age, photo: Ralf Reinecke)