Ivanovic: I can improve

Former champion through to the last 16

By Tony Curtis   Last updated: 5th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ivanovic: I can improve

Ivanovic: Saw off King

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Former champion Ana Ivanovic is through to the third round of the LA Championships after a battling win over Vania King.

Sixth seed Ivanovic struggled to breakdown King early on, before coming on strong to clinch a 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory.

And although happy to win, the Serbian knows she can perform better.

"I felt happy with the way I was moving and playing," said Ivanovic.

"It's just the first match and I have the ability to improve. I had an opportunity a few times to put the ball away but had a little doubt in my mind as to which shot to take."

Ivanovic is joined in the last 16 by second seed Vera Zvonareva, who also needed three sets to see off China's Shuai Peng.

The Russian lost the opening set before bouncing back to win 3-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6).

There were no shocks on day two of the tournament, with seeds Samantha Stosur and Na Li both coming through their first round games unscathed.

Australia's Stosur, the 13th seed, easily dispatched Romania's Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-2, while Li's opponent Ayumi Morita retired midway into the second set with the Chinese ace already 6-0 2-0 up.

Daniela Hantuchova battled hard from one set down against Melanie Oudin to secure her place in the second round.

The 26-year old struggled in the opening set and eventually lost the tie-break 7-3, but Hantuchova came back ever stronger as she rattled off 6-7 6-2 6-2 victory.

Elsewhere, Aleksandra Wozniak, Sorana Cirstea, Urszula Radwanska, Ekaterina Makarova and Maria Kirilenko all earned straight-set victories.