Ivanovic advances at LA Women's Tennis

CARSON, Calif., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Ana Ivanovic held off hometown heroine Vania King 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 Tuesday to advance to the second round of the LA Women's Tennis Championship.

The former No. 1-ranked Serbian was far from sharp as she scrambled to defeat King, who hails from Long Beach, just across the Interstate 405 freeway from the tournament venue in Carson, Calif.

"Vania's serve was getting me frustrated, but otherwise I felt happy the way I was moving and playing," said Ivanovic, currently ranked No. 11 in the world and playing for the first time since Wimbledon. "I really feel like I have lots of possibilities to build up from this."

The win keeps Ivanovic on track to meet top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia in the quarterfinals. Safina, the defending champion, won her opening match Monday and will play Daniela Hantuchova Wednesday.