Carla Suarez Navarro rallied from a set down to defeat Ana Ivanovic in the opening round of the Olympics in Rio.
Ivanovic dominates first set to jump out to early lead
The Serbian wasted no time to take the advantage, breaking to 30 on her third chance after wasting her first two chances. She extended her lead to 4-1 with another break to 30 in the fifth game. Two long games ended the first set. The first was in the seventh stanza, Suarez Navarro rallying to hold from 0-40 down, saving three set points, lasting eight points. Ivanovic won a 10 point eighth game, saving three break points, including two from 15-40 down, taking her first set point to win it 6-2 for a one-set lead.
Suarez Navarro dominates second set to even the match
The Spaniard needed a quick response and she got it with a tough hold and her first break of the match to 30 in the second game, her second opportunity yielding her a 2-0 lead. She would further take advantage of a suddenly shaky Ivanovic, breaking to love in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead. Suarez Navarro proceeded to serve out the set, her second set point sealing it by a 6-1 score and levelling the match at one set all.
Suarez Navarro builds big lead, runs with away with the final set to advance
With two lopsided sets in the books, it was difficult to determine who would win the match. Suarez Navarro started out with an immediate break to 30 and Ivanovic was now in full panic mode after the result of the second set. It wouldn't get any better as Ivanovic surrendered her serve again, this time, to 15 and Suarez Navarro built a 3-0, double-break lead, seemingly no way back for the Serb now.
She would at least get on the board with a hold in the fifth game, Suarez Navarro now ahead 4-1. She lost serve to give Ivanovic a tiny glimmer of hope, but that was erased when the Spaniard broke again for a 5-2 lead. She proceeded to blow a 40-15 lead trying to serve out the match, but won the final two points after Ivanovic got it to deuce, her third match point giving her the set and progressing her to round two against 19-year old Croat Ana Konjuh. Konjuh defeated Annika Beck 7-6 (5), 6-1.
