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lta.org.uk June 15, 2014 Birmingham, England - Ana Ivanovic has been crowned the 2014 Aegon Classic champion after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

The Serbian world No.13 claimed her first WTA title on grass after one hour and 17 minutes of play on the Ann Jones Centre Court against the 28 year-old Czech player.

After receiving the Maud Watson trophy, the 26 year-old said: “It feels amazing, the crowd has been amazing and I’m really looking forward to coming back next year.” Ivanovic added: "I mean, I didn't think much about even winning title when I came here.

"I really wanted to just get into it and see how I feel on grass. I didn't have too much preparation coming into this week even, but I really felt better from each match. Today was a little bit tight. I am just so happy to win that title. It really means a lot to me."

Zahlavova Strycova commented: “Ana was playing really well and I wish her good luck at Wimbledon, the week has been great. I really enjoyed myself and I want to say thank you to the crowd you were amazing.” 

lta.org.uk June 14, 2014 Birmingham, England Top seed Ana Ivanovic is through to the final of the Aegon Classic after beating China’s, Shuai Zhang in straight sets. The world No.13 was the only player yet to have not dropped a set going into the day’s first match-up.

It was Zhang who took the early advantage, breaking the Serb in the opening game before holding for a 2-0 lead. But Ivanovic recovered quickly and began to settle into the groove. She took six straight games to take the first set after hitting ten winners and making very few errors for Zhang to capitalise on. This trend continued into the second set as Ivanovic broke her opponent again to take a 2-0 lead after some more consistent first serves. Zhang was unable to find a way past, as Ivanovic held on to secure a 6-2, 6-2 victory and her fourth final of the year. 

Joining Ivanovic in the Aegon Classic final will be the world No.62 Barbara Zahlavova Strycova, who beat Casey Dellacqua, 7-6(5), 6-1. Strycova was the lowest ranked player remaining in the tournament but has looked comfortable on the grass so far. Just six minutes into the game play was stopped due to rain and the covers had to be thrown on.

When they returned to the court, it was Strycova who benefited from the stoppage as the Czech took the initial break. But the Aussie came back to bring the set back on serve before the match was stopped due to rain once more. After the second restart, the pair exchanged breaks again as the set went to a tie break.

Strycova won the test of nerves as she held strong to take the opening set 7-6(5). The Czech thrived from the tight affair as she took an early break in the following set. Dellacqua on the other hand was unable to find her rhythm on her serve and Strycova took advantage by going 3-0 up before seeing out a straight sets win. 

lta.org.uk June 13, 2014 London, England – China’s Shuai Zhang, beat No.3 seed, Sloane Stephens in the opening match on the Ann Jones Centre Court at the Aegon Classic.

Zhang started the match strong breaking the American immediately and her momentum continued despite strong serving from Stephens. But it was Stephens’ unforced forced error count that ultimately cost her the first set. The second set fared no better for the American as she was unable to hold serve and went 4-0 down. Her opponent took the match in just under an hour, sealing a 6-3, 6-1 victory. 

Zhang will next play top seed Ana Ivanovic who also advanced after cruisng past sixth seed Klara Koukalova 6-1, 6-4 to earn her place in the Aegon Classic semi-finals. Koukalova, who received treatment on her left leg at the end of the first set, struggled throughout the match especially with her serving.

Casey Dellacqua made light work of her Aegon Classic quarter-final match as she breezed past Kimiko Date-Krumm, 6-1, 6-0.

The Aussie stormed into the lead after making a handful of unforced errors in the first set, while her opponent looked nothing like the player she was the day before where she beat reigning champion, Daniela Hantuchova. The 43 year old, Date-Krumm was unable to keep up with the sixteenth seed. Her serving continued to falter and in the end, Dellacqua was able to finish off the match with a bagel. 

lta.org.uk June 12, 2014 London, England – Last year’s victor Daniela Hantuchova has fallen to 43 year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 6-0 in the third round of the Aegon Classic. This takes their head-to-head record to 4-2 to Date-Krumm, with this being her first triumph over Hantuchova on grass.

Top seed Ana Ivanovic is through to the Aegon Classic quarter-finals as she defeated American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1 in just over an hour. In the final eight the Serbian faces sixth seed Klara Koukalova. 

All-American affair Third seed Sloane Stephens has beaten fellow American Alison Riske 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-1 to progress to the quarter finals of the Aegon Classic. During a tight first set neither player managed to capitalise on their break points, with Riske having five chances to Stephens’ two

Casey Dellacqua has come out on top in the battle of the Aussies beating Samantha Stosur 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. The twenty-nine year old turned the match around from a set down to win against the second seed in just under two hours. Dellacqua, who won the doubles alongside Ashleigh Barty in Birmingham last year, will now continue her tilt for the singles title facing Kimiko Date-Krumm in the quarter-finals next. 

lta.org.uk: June 11 2014 Birmingham, England - Sloane Stephens started day three of the Aegon Classic in winning style as she knocked out Francesca Schiavone of Italy in straight sets.

The American No.3 seed came through against the 2013 quarter-finalist 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 23 minutes to progress into the third round where she meets Alison Riske who overcame qualifier Nadiia Kichenok 7-6(4), 6-1.

Australian second seed Sam Stosur began her Aegon Classic campaign against American Christina McHale coming through swiftly with a 6-1, 6-3 win. World No.62 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova progressed into the third round of the Aegon Classic on Wednesday after defeating fifth seed Lucie Safarova. In a match lasting over two hours, Strycova came through 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 knocking out the Czech world No.21.

Alexsandra Wosniak continues winning form Alexsandra Wosniak continued her good run of form at the Aegon Classic on Wednesday as she defeated British wild card Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 to progress into round three. The Canadian, who came through two rounds of qualifying, also knocked out British No.1 Heather Watson in the opening round.  

lta.org.uk: June 10 2014 Birmingham, England - Top seed Ana Ivanovic has made the third round of the Aegon Classic after a short lived deficit against Mona Bartel of Germany. The Serbian world No.13 player won 6-4, 6-1 after going 2-0 down in the beginning of the first set. The 2013 Aegon Classic champion Daniela Hantuchova began her title defence on Tuesday progressing through to the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

British No.3 Johanna Konta progressed into the Aegon Classic second round after winning 6-3, 6-1 against fourteenth seed Kurumi Nara. Heather Watson lost 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 to Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak in a long battle clocking up to more than two hours.  Last year’s doubles champion, Casey Dellacqua defeated Ursula Radwanska 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the singles. The Australian took the win comfortably in less than an hour against Radwanska, who sits fifty places below her in the world rankings.