The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) today announced that Singapore has won the bidding contest to host the season-ending WTA Championships during 2014-2018.
The event showcases the world's top 8 ranked singles players and the top four doubles teams. Ana took part in the tournament in 2007 and 2008. The current host city is Istanbul.
Ana defeated world No.60 Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open. The 25-year-old triumphed in just 56 minutes to extend her clay court win-loss record this season to 6-1.
Ana was aggressive throughout. She broke to lead 2-0 and never looked back, asserting her dominance with four further breaks (she was broken once herself). Six aces and a first serve percentage of 65 illustrate the confidence Ana showed on her serve.
Ana takes on world No.61 Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday. It will be the first meeting between the pair.
Ana reached round two courtesy of a hard-fought three-set win over American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while Scheepers scored a surprise three-set victory over world No.18 Jelena Jankovic.
Ana defeated world No.72 Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-7 (10-12), 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round of the Mutua Madrid Open. The 16th seed combined powerful groundstrokes with great defense and proved the fitter player as the match progressed, to book victory after two-and-a-half hours.
Ana had lost the pair’s only previous encounter two years ago at the same venue, from a set and a break up no less. Today, Ana broke her opponent in the third game, but instantly surrendered her lead as she dropped serve in the following game.
Ana has been drawn against a qualifier in the Mutua Madrid Open, which begins on Saturday. She is seeded 16th at the 64-woman, €4,033,254 event.
If she reaches round two Ana will meet either another qualifier or compatriot and former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic. Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska is a possible third round opponent.
Sixth seed Angelique Kerber, whom Ana defeated in Fed Cup competition last month, is a potential adversary in the quarter-finals, while No.2 Maria Sharapova or No.8 Petra Kvitova could await in the last four.
Prior to February Dubai Duty Free Championships, Ana took part in the "Dubai Full of Surprises Travel Show".
The 25-year-old gave a tour of the new Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, which is home to an impressive array of artwork.
Images of Ana in action during Serbia's recent Fed Cup tie against Germany are now in the Galleries section.
Ana's ranking has improved one spot to No.16 in the latest WTA Rankings, which are published today.
In the Race to the WTA Championships Ana is placed 18th.
Current WTA top 20:
1 Serena Williams (USA) 11,115pts
2 Maria Sharapova (Rus) 10,240pts
3 Victoria Azarenka (Blr) 9,130pts
4 Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) 6,845pts
5 Na Li (Chn) 6,000pts
6 Angelique Kerber (Ger) 5,420pts
7 Sara Errani (Ita) 5,350pts
8 Petra Kvitova (Cze) 5,225pts
9 Samantha Stosur (Aus) 3,790pts
Ana emerged with a lot of credit from a highly-entertaining clash with world No.2 Maria Sharapova, she but was unable to reach her first semi-final of the year as she fell 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
The 25-year-old was close to scoring an upset over the defending champion and top seed but, crucially, she could hold serve only once in the deciding set as she tasted defeat after two hours and 16 minutes.
Ana reached the last eight of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over world No.11 Nadia Petrova. With today’s win in 80 minutes, she extends her winning streak on clay to four matches as she continued her fine form on German soil.
Despite the comfortable straight sets win, it took the 25-year-old some time to produce her best tennis. She was broken in the third game, fell behind 4-2, and twice faced another break point for a double-break deficit as Petrova began as the more aggressive player.
