Video: Ivanovic Rips Dazzling Forehand Past Sharapova in Cincy

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Video: Ivanovic Rips Dazzling Forehand Past Sharapova in Cincy

Ana Ivanovic didn’t come away with the title at the Western and Southern Open this weekend in Cincinnati, but the Serb proved yet again that she is a vastly improved player from the last few years when she took down Maria Sharapova in the semifinals to reach her tour-leading (tied with Serena Williams) fifth final of the year. The victory over Sharapova is Ivanovic's second in a row against the Russian, and it also marks her fifth top ten victory of the season, which is more than Ivanovic amassed in the last two seasons combined and the most she’s had since her biggest year in 2008.

WTA: Serena Williams Claims First Cincinnati Title with Win over Ivanovic

Ivanovic will rise to No. 9 in the WTA rankings on Monday, and she’s also, thanks to Li Na’s U.S. Open withdrawal, guaranteed herself a top eight seed in New York next week.

If you read all that and still don’t think Ana Ivanovic is playing excellent tennis this season, we suggest you watch this amazing point and reconsider. Note the improved backhand, which enables Ivanovic to stay on the level with Sharapova through a long crosscourt sequence, then note the improvisational squash shot, which is just plain awesome, and finally, the defensive quickness that Ivanovic exhibits in tracking down Sharapova’s wicked crosscourt forehand and knocking it for a clean topspin winner.

Pretty awesome stuff from the 26-year-old Serb, and if she keeps it up she can definitely be a big factor at next week’s U.S. Open.

Photo Source: Christopher Levy

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