Singapore: Top seed Serena Williams survived a stern test from Ana Ivanovic and eased concerns over her injured knee as she opened the WTA Finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win yesterday.


Serena Williams reacts after defeating Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in Singapore yesterday. Pic/AFP 

The world number one Williams settled after a nervous start to put in an ultimately clinical performance in Singapore in which she broke Ivanovic at crucial moments in both sets. Williams also proved her fitness, in question after she withdrew from this month's China Open, by chasing down and sliding into points and at one point doing the splits.