Ivanovic dispatches Williams to win Auckland tennis title

Auckland, Jan 4: Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic beat US champion Venus Williams for the title at the ASB Classic tennis tournament here Saturday.

The heavyweight battle lasted for two hours and 19 minutes, reports Xinhua.

Williams boasted 44 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) titles and seven Grand Slams while Ivanovic had 11 titles behind her.

Williams came into the match after an unscheduled rest day thanks to the withdrawal of compatriot Jamie Hampton from their semi-final playoff Friday due to injury, while Ivanovic had dispatched Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens.