Last year’s Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic has made an early exit from the 2009 Australian Open.
Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova upset the fifth seed in straight sets Friday to reach the fourth round in Melbourne.
Ivanovic’s play during the first three rounds of the Grand Slam was inconsistent and throughout Friday’s match, she struggled with her ball toss and service game. She managed to force a tiebreak and win the second set, but still lost to Kleybanova 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.
“It was definitely the best match in my career so far,” Kleybanova said after the match. “I’m so happy that I pulled through, because it was not just a win, but I really felt that I played almost my best tennis today.”
Kleybanova will play Jelena Dockic in the fourth round.
