Ivanovic falls to Mauresmo in Brisbane

Jan 8, 2009, 6:29 GMT

   Brisbane, Australia - Amelie Mauresmo on Thursday backed her rush back to form as she eliminated fragile top seed Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2 in a 67-minute rout at the Brisbane International.

   Mauresmo, a one-time Australian Open and Wimbledon champion who has suffered in recent seasons, has now beaten the Serb in six out of eight matches, including Wimbledon and Miami in 2006.

   Ivanovic has looked shaky all week, with the 29-year-old Mauresmo finally putting the boot in to reach the semi-finals for the first time since August.

   Mauresmo will await an opponent from the match between third-seeded compatriot Marion Bartoli and Italian Tathiana Garbin.

   Ivanovic joined men's top seed Novak Djokovic on the scrapheap at the tournament's first edition.

   With women taking the spotlight on the day, second seed Victoria Azarenka survived as she put out Czech Lucie Safarova after coming back from 5-1 down in the first set.

   The player from Belarus eventually got through 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

   Italy's Sara Errani, who lifted two clay titles last summer, reached her third career hardcourt semi with a victory over Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-3.

   In men's play, Fernando Verdasco succeeded where his girlfriend Ivanovic failed as he booked into the final four through a defeat of Frenchman Florent Serra 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.