ANA IVANOVIC’S Toronto Cup title defense came to an abrupt end with a 6-3 6-1 second-round loss to qualifier Yan Zi of China on Wednesday.

The fourth-seeded Serb was joined at the exit door by Russian fifth and eighth seeds Anna Chakvetadze and Elena Dementieva and Czech No. 16 Lucie Safarova.

Fresh from collecting her second title of the season in Los Angeles on Sunday, Ivanovic was unable to carry the momentum to Canada, the 169th-ranked Yan disposing of the world No. 4 in just 65 minutes to record the biggest victory of her career.

“She (Ivanovic) is a top player, I think today I was very lucky, “ Yan told reporters. “Today I was very relaxed because she is a top player and I didn’t think I could win so I just go on to the court to enjoy the match.”

Yan, who has had to qualify for all seven WTA Tour events she has played this season, took charge quickly by breaking Ivanovic at the first opportunity to go up 2-0 in the opening set.

Ivanovic, playing her first match after receiving a first-round bye, immediately broke back to level at 2-2 but Yan was undeterred, winning eight of the next nine games to take the opening set and a 4-0 lead in the second.

The day began with Italy’s Francesca Schiavone ending Dementieva’s title hopes with a gritty 6-7 6-3 6-2 comeback win, while American Meghann Shaughnessy shook off her indifferent form to surprise Safarova 3-6 6-4 7-5.

Wimbledon finalist and seventh seed Marion Bartoli and Virginie Razzano, all from France, advanced when their opponents were forced to retire with injuries.

Sixth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova, runner-up to Ivanovic in Los Angeles, overcame a sluggish start to dent Canadian title hopes with a 6-7 6-2 6-1 win over Stephanie Dubois. (SD-Agencies)