Ivanovic survives two match points before edging out Dechy in marathon - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Ivanovic survives two match points before edging out Dechy in marathon

Top seed Ana Ivanovic survived two match points before beating France's Nathalie Dechy 6-7 7-6 10-8 in a second round thriller at Wimbledon.

The Serbian new world number one, fresh from her triumph at the French Open, often looked tentative but survived through sheer persistence to land the tightest of victories.

In the first set, Ivanovic dropped just two points as she sailed into a 3-0 lead. But she then lost her serve twice, Dechy seized the initiative and captured the tiebreak 7-2.

Ana Ivanovic had to show all her fighting qualities to see off Nathalie Dechy in a marathon second round match

Ana Ivanovic had to show all her fighting qualities to see off Nathalie Dechy in a marathon second round match


In the second set, Ivanovic looked to be back in control and had three break points for a 4-1 lead. Dechy, refusing to be denied, levelled the match and had two match points at 5-4.

On one of those points, a volley from Ivanovic tricked over after hitting the top of the net.

But Ivanovic fought back and won the tie-break 7-3.

In a nerve-tingling final set, Ivanovic swept into a 4-2 lead. But Dechy clawed her way back to 5-5 and then survived two match points at 6-5 before finally succumbing 10-8.

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