Ivanovic confirms title credentials

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Fourth seed Ana Ivanovic stamped her title credentials on the Australian Open and achieved one of her goals for the tournament with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victory over Katerina Srebotnik in the third round on Saturday.

Ivanovic only needed one break of serve in both sets against the 28th-ranked Slovenian, who forced the tall Serb into several scrambling points and refused to allow the world number three to have it all her own way.

"I knew she was a tough opponent and I just had to keep my composure and fight for every point, and that's exactly what I did," Ivanovic told reporters.

"I think this was a big step and good win for me today."

The 20-year-old admitted she had been nervous in her first- round victory over Sorana Cirstea of Romania but had settled down and was pleased to make the Australian Open fourth round for the first time, one of her goals coming into the grand slam.

"I tried to find my game, and struggled a bit, but since then I really tried to focus on each point separately and not to think too much emotionally about it," she added.

"I really performed well and I'm really happy to reach the second week, because that was my goal coming into this tournament.

"But now, everything is possible. I had good wins and my serve is getting better, and I just want to keep this level."