Ana Ivanovic: JP/Zul Trio Anggono

Ana Ivanovic celebrated her 23rd birthday Saturday by overcoming Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm in a thrilling semifinal at the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, setting up a final meeting with dangerous Russian Alisa Kleybanova.

The former world number one from Serbia, now ranked 24 and resurgent after taking her first title in two years in Linz in October, triumphed 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 in 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Kleybanova, who defeated defending champion Aravane Rezai of France on Friday, was little troubled in beating wildcard Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-1.

“It was a good match for me, my serve was really good today and the quickness of the court suits my game because I like to play fast,” said Kleybanova, 21, who served six aces and converted five of six breakpoints.

Sunday’s finals, including the match for third place between Hantuchova and Date Krumm, will begin at 2 p.m. at the Westin Convention Center.

Although the crowd serenaded Ivanovic with “Happy Birthday” during the warm-up, Date Krumm, 40, was in no mood to gift her opponent a place in the final.

The Japanese, ranked 53, hits the ball on the rise, ideal for the fast indoor court in Bali. Moving the
Serb from side to side with accurate placements, and profiting from her unforced errors, she broke at
love in the first game, and then fended off three break points in a long service game.

Date Krumm, at 1.64 meter a full 22 centimeters shorter than the Serb, showed she meant business
by again breaking at love to lead 3-0. But a costly missed smash allowed Ivanovic to break back, with games staying on serve until 3-5.

Ivanovic served two double faults in a row, giving Date Krumm three set points. She fought hard to save them, including with a searing 191 kilometers per hour serve.

“Even when I was leading, I never felt the power was there,” Date Krumm said. “And she was missing a lot at the beginning.”

She was unable to serve out the set, and was broken again at love at 5-6 as Ivanovic, ahead for the
first time in the match, garnered the set. She then broke again to open up a 2-0 lead, having won six games in a row.

Date Krumm characteristically refused to surrender. She saved a matchpoint at 5-6 down after an arduous rally that had both women covering every inch of the court. In the tiebreak, Ivanovic led 5-3 before the Japanese won four points in a row to force a deciding set.

It was then that the 17-year age difference showed. The Japanese was a little slower to the ball, and the Serb seized the momentum to sweep the final set in 30 minutes.

“I was probably a bit tired from the first round,” said Date Krumm, who had beaten world number 11 and top seed Li Na of China in a 2:22 marathon on Thursday.

Ivanovic, who credits her improved results to a new fitness program and more positive outlook on life, was pleased by her ability to recoup from failing to close out the match in two sets. She also praised the play of her opponent, who she called “amazing”.

“She is a very good player, she doesn’t give you anything. I just hope I’m as fit as her at that age,” said Ivanovic, who will celebrate her birthday by wearing traditional Balinese attire to the players’ dinner.
Ivanovic leads 4-2 in meetings with Kleybanova, the world number 27, including identical 6-3, 6-2 victories earlier this year. However,Kleybanova has been impressive in her two matches in Bali, especially her 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Rezai.

“It’ll be the last match of the year, so I’m just going out there to enjoy it,” said the Russian, who won  the Kuala Lumpur and Seoul titles  this year.

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