Kremlin Cup: Ivanovic thumps qualifier to reach quarters

Moscow - Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic thrashed Russian qualifier Valeria Solovieva to reach the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup tennis Thursday.

Ivanovic beat world No.216 Solovieva 6-1, 6-4 in the second round for her first win in two appearances at the Moscow tournament.

“I think she started to play better in the second set and she was missing less,” Ivanovic said, adding that she thought Solovieva was overawed by the occasion in the first set.

“I think it was the nerves because I think she was playing in her first big match.”

The Serbian fourth seed will now play qualifier Vesna Dolonc in an all-Serbian quarterfinal after Dolonc demolished Romania’s Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 in the second round.

“Dolonc, even though she’s Serbian I don’t know much about her,” Ivanovic said.

“I haven’t seen her play much lately, so it would be interesting.”

Ivanovic’s seeding ensured she enjoyed a first-round bye.