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 The former French Open champion's competition is dwindling with
American third seed Sloane Stephens and number four Kirsten Flipkens
of Belgium ousted, 6-3 6-1 by China's Zhang Shuai and 6-4 6-2 by
Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova respectively.
Ivanovic needed just 27 minutes to win the first set for the loss of
one game as she capitalized on Koukalova's weak second serve.
The second set was a more even affair with the Czech momentarily
leading 4-3 before Ivanovic reeled off the final three games to set
up a semi-final with Shuai.
 The Serbian has yet to drop a set in her three matches in the
grasscourt tournament.
"I really tried to do my thing because I know she can be dangerous
and last time we played, in Doha, I lost," Ivanovic said. "She's won
on grass in the past and is a great competitor as she showed in her
matches this week.
"I expected a tough match so from the first moment on I was trying
to be really aggressive. I tried to dominate her and put pressure on
her and I played really well in that first set.
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"The second set was a lot tougher. She's a tough competitor. I'm
really happy to win in two sets," said Ivanovic.
The other semi-final pits Strycova against Australian Casey
Dellacqua who beat 43-year-old Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1 6-0.
(Reporting by Tom Hayward, editing by Tony Jimenez)
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