Top seed Ivanovic happy to be playing again

Simon Cambers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top seed Ana Ivanovic survived a scare in her first-round match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday and said she was simply happy to be playing again after missing the Olympics because of injury.

The Serbian, whose right thumb problem caused her to pull out of Beijing, made 40 unforced errors but finally scrambled to a 6-1 4-6 6-4 win over Russian Vera Dushevina.

For someone trying to add the U.S. Open to her French Open crown, a tough first-round match is probably not the ideal preparation for an assault on the title.

But having only begun practicing a week before the year's final grand slam event, Ivanovic said she was thankful for small mercies.

"I'm very, very happy, because just to be here and to be able to compete, for me, it's already a great achievement," she told reporters.

"After Beijing I thought I might not be able to compete here, so without so much practice, I thought I did pretty well.

"When I went first on the court, I was very excited and I started to play really well. Obviously the lack of practice showed a bit later but I am just so thrilled to have an opportunity to slowly get into tournament and improve."

Ivanovic began well, though, cruising through the first set and charging ahead 4-2 in the second before her game unraveled.

World number 57 Dushevina forced a decider, saved two match points and had two break points to level at 5-5, but the top seed finally prevailed.

She will now play French qualifier Julie Coin.

Ivanovic said she was now playing with no pain but admitted missing the Olympics had been a difficult pill to swallow.

"I was so much looking forward to the Olympics and very excited to compete there," said Ivanovic, who flew to Australia from Beijing to see her doctor.

"When I had to pull out, it was probably one of the hardest days of my career so far.

"So to go from there and then to come here and to be able to compete at 100 percent and without pain, it's already a great achievement for me."

Despite being the top seed, the Serb admitted the title might be a stretch too far.