Ivanovic can't handle Serena, gusts

Before her match with Serena Williams Monday, Ana Ivanovic knew she was coming up against the U.S. Open favorite. Never mind that Williams was ranked 28th in the world and never mind she had played only five tournaments this year before this one.

Ivanovic knew what was coming. "As I said before the match, I think she's the favorite for the tournament," the 16th-seeded Ivanovic said. "She's been playing really well, and it's gonna be tough."

The way Williams is playing, with two hard-court victories coming in and the legacy of 13 major singles titles, it's going to be tough for everybody. Williams handled difficult conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium court to beat Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-4, and advance to the quarterfinals, where she will meet 20-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Though it was a comfortable win for Williams, she didn't steamroll Ivanovic, who has issues with her serve, particularly her toss. It was the gusty winds of Ashe Stadium, swirling and unpredictable, that gave her fits as much as Williams' powerful game.

"I didn't feel like I was getting blown off the court today," Ivanovic said. "I really felt I created a lot of opportunities. But she did play well . . . I felt her serve held up more than mine did, and that was the difference."

Though Williams will catch any toss she doesn't feel is right -- and the gusts made that important Monday -- Ivanovic seemed reluctant to do so. Many times her toss was blown sideways, but instead of catching it and starting over, she would lunge to serve it.

"Yeah, I know, I know," Ivanovic said. "I do have problems with that. Because I feel kind of bad stopping, but that's my problem."

As she did against Victoria Azarenka in her previous match, Williams jumped out with an early break of Ivanovic's serve to take a 3-0 lead. Then Ivanovic held and broke Williams' serve with some big ground strokes. Ivanovic served her best game of the match to even it at 3-3. But then the double faults, which were a constant burr in her side, began to mount. She served three of them in the eighth game, was broken, and Williams served out the first set. The second set was more of the same.

Williams was playing from in front throughout the match. Her solid service motion and her unshakable concentration let her deal with wind that had the American flag at the top of the stadium flying straight out. Williams served nine aces with only one double fault; Ivanovic had three aces and eight doubles.

Ivanovic spoke of Williams' aura of intimidation.

"She does try to intimidate," Ivanovic said. "She stays close to the baseline, so you feel like you have no space to hit to. That's something I expected going into this match. I really try not to look so much across the net. I just tried to focus on my game."

"Yeah. I walk out there and do the 'Crip' walk and try to intimidate them," Williams said playfully. "No, I don't try. I just am who I am. I am just me."

Spike Lee was in Williams' guest box and she spoke of the director's intensity on the tennis court. "He's crazy," Williams said. "He wants to win more than I do."

Unlikely.

"Subconsciously, in the back of my mind, I'm a person who really hates to lose," Williams said. "It's really important for me just to look at the mountain and keep climbing it."

No one has gotten in her way yet.