Ivanovic’s forehand has been firing well at this tournament, and she quickly had Safina on the rack, forcing break point and then converting the chance as her opponent fired wide with a forehand.

The next three games went with serve, although the feeling still remained that Safina was the more fragile of the two.

The next game confirmed that fragility, Safina’s service game totally deserting her as Ivanovic broke to love to move 4-1 ahead.

But after losing that second break, Safina won eight of the next 10 points to force her way back into the set.

In the sixth game Safina found a supreme forehand winner to prevent falling 5-1 behind at 30-40.

She then brought up break point with a confident volley at the net before Ivanovic netted to allow Safina to break back. A service game to love followed as the Russian closed to 3-4.

Safina battled back again in the next game, recovering from 0-40 down to win five points on the bounce to get the set back on serve.

But the pendulum swung in the next. Both players were now making mistakes, but two shanked forehands by Safina stood out as needless errors, the second of which handed Ivanovic break point, which she duly converted with a forehand winner.

Ivanovic wrapped up the first set after 45 minutes on court, spurning one set point before sealing the opener at the second time of asking as Safina fired long.