Is Ivanovic becoming a smarter player?

Date: 3/25/2011
Result: Miami R2, Ana Ivanovic def. Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2 6-0
Why it matters:
- This is the third win for Ivanovic over Date-Krumm in the last 5 months... and they keep getting easier.  During the depths of Ivanovic's slump, when she would face the same player multiple times, she could never string together consistent wins.  The fact that she can take down Date-Krumm, who is a smart player and tough fighter, and make the result more and more lopsided, shows that not only is her confidence rising, but she's honing her game plan with each match to make the scoreline more comfortable.  Am I ready to say Ivanovic is totally back?  Definitely not.  But winning the matches she should be winning, at least ranking wise, is a first big step to getting back into the top 10 for the first time since June 2009.
- Losing to Ivanovic wouldn't be so bad for Date-Krumm, if she had put up more resistance.  The best comeback story in tennis (sorry Kim...) might be ready to fizzle, though.  She's 5-9 since her epic loss to Tanasugarn in the Osaka final - the "oldest" final ever - and she's losing to players the likes of which she was beating in 2009 and 2010 during her comeback.  She's still right around the top 50 in the rankings, so it's hard to say she should give it up, but she needs to regroup, especially with the clay court season coming up where she traditionally struggles.  If she can't make a run on the grass, or more importantly in her beloved home tournaments in Japan (should they still be held), the end might be near for the inspiring 40 year old.
Honorable Mentions:
- Miami R2, Somdev Devvarman def. Milos Raonic - 76 75 - two of the breakout stars in Indian Wells met early in Miami, and Devvarman's hot streak is stronger, and he really seems to have the attitude to develop into a consistent performer.  This has to be the longest stretch of tough matches in Raonic's young career, so he is deserving of a good rest.  Everyone is speculating how he'll perform on clay, so keep an eye out at Monte Carlo, a big event for Milos to make his tour debut on clay (though he won 2 easy matches on clay in Davis Cup against opponents outside the top 100).

- Miami R2, Alex Bogomolov, Jr. def. Andy Murray - 61 75 - this was not the bounce-back match Murray needed following his stunning loss to Young in Indian Wells.  He really needs to regroup - like maybe do something REALLY impressive on clay, not just improve slightly, as I suggested previously, to get his confidence for the grass court season.  If Murray comes back to the UK with no momentum, the media will rip him to shreds.  Sorry to Bogomolov, but this match is all about Murray's performance, though Brad Gilbert did tweet: "Kei split the court today with Bogie during a.m. warm up & I was thinking to myself that bogomolov was hitting super intense..." enjoy the win though!