Ivanovic survives scare

Ivanovic: Scraping through

It was really tough. She was playing really well, mixing it up a lot.

Ana Ivanovic
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Former world number one Ana Ivanovic faced two match points en route to victory against Roberta Vinci at the Brisbane International.

The top seed eventually progressed into the quarter-finals of the tournament following a 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-1 triumph against the Italian - a scoreline that perhaps does not reflect how close she came to getting knocked out.

Down a set and trailing 5-4 in the second, she fell 15-40 behind on serve in the 10th game of the second set to give Vinci double matchpoint.

A succession of solid serves and ground strokes rescued the match for the relieved 21-year-old though, and she went on to take the third set comfortably.

"It was really tough. She was playing really well, mixing it up a lot," Ivanovic said.

Confidence

"I wasn't as aggressive as I should have been. I tried to be fitter and tougher mentally than she was and it paid off. So that gives me confidence."

Former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo awaits the Serb in the last eight and should provide even more of a test in preparation for the Australian Open.

Ivanovic, who spent 12 weeks at number one last season, also struggled at times in her first-round win over Petra Kvitova.

Having now been pushed to the wire by a qualifier for the main draw as well there appears to be plenty more work needed ahead of the Grand Slam in Melbourne, which starts on January 19.