Ivanovic targets top, Bartoli through in Tokyo

TOKYO – Former world number one Ana Ivanovic booked a spot in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open on Monday and says she still has the game to challenge for grand slam titles.“That’s the only reason I’m still here,” Ivanovic, who climbed to the top of the women’s rankings after winning the 2008 French Open, told Reuters.“I already achieved two of my biggest dreams in winning a grand slam and being number one in the world.“But I believe I can still be at the top level and winning grand slams. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” added the 24-year-old, the winner of 11 WTA Tour titles.Nine of the world’s top 10 women are competing this week at the $2.16 million Tokyo event, with the top eight seeds receiving byes into the second round.Ivanovic, seeded 11th, beat Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 2-0 to advance when the Czech retired with a thigh injury after just 44 minutes.The Serb who reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals earlier this month, faces Urszula Radwanska in the second round after the Pole beat Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-2 6-4 .France’s Marion Bartoli bundled out Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1 6-4 -- just four days before the local favourite’s 42nd birthday.Italy’s former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone squeezed past Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 4-6 7-6 6-4 to set up a second round match with Australian Samantha Stosur.

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Ivanovic targets top, Bartoli through in Tokyo