Ivanovic has started 2011 in good form
Ana Ivanovic opens her Australian Open 2011 campaign against Ekaterina Makarova.
This is a slightly tricky opener for Ivanovic. World number 49 Makarova can be a bit of a giant-killer on her day and she gave Victoria Azarenka a very tough match in Sydney a week ago, only just going down in three sets to the world number nine.
However having said that, Ivanovic won their only previous match 6-3, 6-2 in round one of last year's US Open. The 2008 finalist is a far shadow from the confidence-stricken player who crashed out in the second round of last year's tournament.
Ivanovic looked in fine form at the Hopman Cup, winning two of her three singles rubbers (she lost to Justine Henin) and she revealed that her serve, so often a weakness over the past couple of years, is finally developing into a reliable weapon.
Ivanovic has been exuding a quiet confidence in the build-up to this tournament and if she can come through the first few rounds unscathed there's a chance she could go some way.
Prediction: Ivanovic to grind out a tough two setter
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