Top-seeded Kerber, Ivanovic in Linz final

Former No.1 Ana Ivanovic has made her first WTA final of the year, playing Angelique Kerber in the decider at Linz.

Serbian two-time tennis champion Ana Ivanovic

Former champion Ana Ivanovic has beaten Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland and secured a finals spot. (AAP)

Two-time former champion Ana Ivanovic defeated Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 6-4 6-4 on Saturday to set up a final against top-seeded Angelique Kerber at the WTA event in the Austrian city of Linz.

Kerber overpowered Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-2 6-0 to reach her second final of the season. The 10th-ranked German was beaten by Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in the Tokyo final two weeks ago.

"Apart from the first set of my first match, everything is going very well this week," said Kerber, referring to her 0-6 6-1 6-2 first-round win over Monica Niculescu.

The former top-ranked Ivanovic won the event in 2008 and '10 and holds nine more WTA titles, but this will be the Serb's first final of the season.

Ivanovic is 3-1 against Kerber, but the German won their most recent match in straight sets in Tokyo last month. Kerber is eyeing her third career title.

"It wasn't an easy draw for me so I am happy to get though," said Ivanovic, who didn't concede a set in the previous rounds against Yanina Wickmayer, Francesca Schiavone and Dominika Cibulkova. "I am still looking for more consistency."

Kerber was given a late wildcard entry in Linz to replace Kvitova after the former Wimbledon champion pulled out with a back injury.

By reaching the semi-finals, Kerber secured the eighth and final spot in the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul.


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Source: AAP


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