It will be a battle of youth and experience at Melbourne Park today when 26-year-old and former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic takes on the 19-year-old Canadian sensation Eugenie Bouchard. Join us for live scores and commentary from 12:00pm AEDT.
Last year Bouchard trumped Ivanovic 6-3 6-3 in Round 2 of Wimbledon and they meet again for only the second time with an opportunity to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Ivanovic, the 14th seed, 2008 Australian Open runner up and 2008 French Open champion is on the verge of returning to her best tennis having not lost at match so far this year.
The Serbian is coming off an emphatic three-set victory over World No. 1 Serena Williams and her first WTA Tour title in over two years defeating Serena’s sister Venus for the Auckland Classic.
Standing in her way of a 10th straight victory in 2014 is Bouchard, the first Canadian to make a quarter-final at a Grand Slam since 1992, and chances are she won’t gift Ivanovic an easy victory today.
Bouchard spoiled Casey Dellacqua’s Australian Open run, taking out the last two sets 6-2, 6-0 after losing the first in a tiebreak.
The rising star has jumped in the WTA World Rankings from 144 at the start of last year to a career-high No. 31 in 2014 and doesn’t looking like slowing any time soon.
The Serbian glamour Ivanovic will have to continue to fire winners from her forehand side and dictate play from the net if she wants to take out the young girl who she labelled as “the future of tennis.”
Ivanovic in two.
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
what a match! Bouchard could go all the way!
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
The 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has defied all odds to eliminate former World No. 1 Anna Ivanovic from the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The teen sensation will now face LI Na in the next round to book a spot in a grand slam decider. She looked a champion in the making today as she clinched the last two set 7-5 6-2 and surprised everyone as she tore apart Ivanovic’s game in last few games. See you in the semi’s.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
GAME SET MATCH - BOUCHARD 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Big point from Bouchard to get it to deuce, still two points away. Brings up match point after another error from Ivanovic. Bouchard 5 7 5 Ivanovic 7 5 2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Up 30-0, Bouchard two points away from the biggest moment of her young career. Bouchard 5 7 5 Ivanovic 7 5 2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Bouchard up 5-2 now showing signs of what it takes to make it to the top ten. An impressive performance from the young star on show here at Rod Laver Arena, what a moment! Bouchard 5 7 5 Ivanovic 7 5 2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Ivanovic hangs in there and its 4-2 in the third to the girl from Canada's way. Bouchard on serve up 15-0. Bouchard 5 7 4 Ivanovic 7 5 2
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Well Bouchard has raced away to a 4-1 lead here in the third and looks in a comfortable position to make it to her first semi-final in a Grand Slam. The 19 year old is in the driving seat, 30-30. A brilliant backhand passing shot from Bouchard. Bouchard 5 7 4 Ivanovic 7 5 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
The Canadian teenager up 3-1 now in the third really taking it to her experienced opponent. 30-15 Ivanovic but Bouchard stays in it with another backhand winner. She has been stronger on that flank all day. Bouchard 5 7 3 Ivanovic 7 5 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
30-30 on the Ivanovic serve after Bouchard finishes at the net again. Break point Bouchard. Bouchard 5 7 2 Ivanovic 7 5 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Bouchard up 40-15 and gets the game, looking tough to beat but its to close to call at this point. Ivanovic to serve from the other end now. Bouchard seems to have had the upper hand in the latter end of this match by serving first, constantly putting the pressure back on her opponent. Bouchard 5 7 2 Ivanovic 7 5 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
After a long deuce game Ivanovic holds to level it up in the third. Anyone's game now. Bouchard 5 7 1 Ivanovic 7 5 1
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Two break points for Bouchard, 15-40. More unforced errors from the Serbian. Ivanovic saves both of them with some desperate serving, deuce. Bouchard 5 7 1 Ivanovic 7 5 0
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Both players just one set away from a Grand Slam semi final. Who will win? Bouchard holds well after some entertaining tennis. Bouchard 5 7 1 Ivanovic 7 5 0
ff
Guest
Go canada go eugenie
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
SECOND SET BOUCHARD - 5-7 7-5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Ivanovic ball toss all over the place, double fault down 0-15. Bouchard taking advantage of some defensive play from Ivanovic but it's 30-30. Bouchard 5 6 Ivanovic 7 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Bouchard up 40-0 and puts the pressure back on her opponent. A double fault but the Canadian but she comes through in the end with a nice hold on serve. Bouchard 5 6 Ivanovic 7 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Bouchard just lost arguably the most important point of the match thus far to go down 15-40. Ivanovic holds to make it 5-5. Bouchard 5 5 Ivanovic 7 5
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Ivanovic up 30-0 after two impressive serves. Bouchard not letting her off the hook showing great resilience with a backhand winner. Bouchard 5 5 Ivanovic 7 4