Ivanovic defeats Safina at French Open. Clinches her first Grand Slam title!

Jun 07

It was time for another French Open women’s final, and though Justine Henin was still on the grounds, she was no longer on the clay. Ana Ivanovic of Serbia celebrates with the trophy after winning the French Open women’s final by defeating Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4, 6-3 at the French Open Roland Garros finals.

Ivanovic wins grand slam title

“Obviously the nerves were still there, but that’s normal,” Ivanovic said. “Last year’s final was a great learning experience for me.” referring to the 2007 finals where she let the finals slip from her hands to Justine Henin.

Ivanovic, 20, was already guaranteed to become No. 1 in the women’s rankings Monday after beating her compatriot Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals. Now, Ivanovic has her first Grand Slam singles title to go with the top spot.

Safina on the other hand had beaten three top-10 seeds, Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova and saved match point in two of them on her way to the final, said fatigue had been a key factor.

“I didn’t have any more of that fire that I had in those matches,” Safina told reporters. “I was just, I think, tired, mental and physically. If I had been just a little bit fresher, it would have been different, because I spent way too many hours for those two matches against Maria and Elena, because comebacks always take so much heart and mental strength.”

“I think we both played a very nervous match, lots of chances for both of us,” Ivanovic said. “I’m just so happy to keep my composure until the end. It’s amazing.”

French Open women’s finals have rarely been great theater of late. The last truly compelling final was in 2001, when Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Cljisters in a third set that stretched to 10-8. Since then, it has been straight sets all the way, with routs being more the rule than the exception. Henin was the primary cause, surrendering an average of just four games in the four finals she won here.

But after her surprise retirement last month, Henin was only in Paris on Saturday to hand over the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, and her former rival Ivanovic was soon holding it up on this overcast afternoon with a broad, bright smile.

Now to wait for the results of the male singles showdown between Federer and Nadal tomorrow. The Roland Garros Men’s Finals will air Live on ESPN India at 6:30 p.m. on 8th June.