Tender toe takes its toll as Ana Ivanovic steps up Dubai Tennis Championships

Ana Ivanovic has been fighting a toe injury since the Australian Open. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

DUBAI // Out of action with a toe injury since her first-round exit at the Australian Open, Ana Ivanovic will lead the big guns out at the Aviation Club on Monday as the tournament's top eight seeds get to work following their first-round bye.

Ivanovic, the No 4 seed, injured her toe before the start of the Australian Open, but, going against medical advice, she took the court for her first-round match against Lucie Hradecka and lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Later, she was forced to pull out of the Fed Cup because of the injury, and though she still feels a bit “sore” and is taking anti-inflammation medicine, Ivanovic is excited about getting back into action.

“It does feel like a completely new season now,” said the Serb, who will meet big-serving German Sabine Lisicki in the day’s second match on Centre Court.

“Since Australia, unfortunately, it’s been a long break, and I really miss the competition because that’s what I love the most.

“I had a great start [to the year] in Brisbane. I thought I played some really good tennis at a very high level and I met Maria [Sharapova] in the final. I was very unfortunate I had that accident just before the Australian Open started and I had to take another two-week stop.

“Now, it’s all about getting back into it, trying to get a few matches under my belt and to get back into the season. I have only been back practising for about 10 days. So it’s not the perfect situation, but it’s something you have to deal with. In sports, you always have this kind of things. Hopefully, the season can pick up.”

Caroline Wozniacki, the No 3 seed, also has a tough opening clash against the 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia, but the Dane is ready for such a clash.

“There are no easy draws,” said Wozniacki, who has made three consecutives semi-finals here since winning the title in 2011. “At the end of the day, I will just go out there and do my best.”

Petra Kvitova, the No 2 seed, will meet rising star Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the evening before the top seed Simona Halep takes to the court against Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who won her third three-set match in three days to make the second round.

A former world No 5, Hantuchova was in Pattaya on Sunday, battling to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Ajla Tomljanovic in the Thailand Open final. She needed two hours and seven minutes to edge that match. A day earlier, she was on court for two hours and 46 minutes in the semis.

Last night, she needed two hours and 39 minutes to defeat Mona Barthel of Germany 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.

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