Ivanovic battles into 2nd round, ace record falls

PARIS: Defending champion Ana Ivanovic sweated to reach the French Open second round yesterday with a gruelling 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Italy's Sara Errani as Roland Garros temperatures hit a sweltering 30 degrees.

The 21-year-old, eighth-seeded Serbian will play either Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn or Camille Pin of France for a place in the third round.

The cheerful Ivanovic, who skipped the Madrid Open because of a knee injury, had the problem area taped when she walked onto a sun-drenched Philippe Chatrier Court, but it didn't hinder her in the early exchanges as she edged to a 3-1 advantage.