Bring on world No16, Ivanovic against her doubles partner Flipkens, four rungs below her in the global pecking order.
Well, the first set simply failed to hit any memorable heights and, thankfully, didn't last very long.
Ivanovic crushed her opponent 6-0 in a tournament where the seedings had predictably forecast the outcome right to the winner.
Flipkens looked like she couldn't return a library book in a hurry, let alone the eventual 26-year-old champion's docile serves in the yawn fest.
What rallies? I've seen more action from brolly dollies on the tarmac before the start of motor racing.
Conversely, the losing semifinalist's serves were abysmal as she engineered her own downfall with a rash of double faults.
I mean, this player was ranked No13 in the world only last August.
The grim look on the faces of many spectators told the story as Flipkens went through the motions.
Fortunately, I could flick to other channels on Sky Sport from the comfort of my lounge.
More tennis? That's easy, because the entree to the Australian Open, the Brisbane International, had started half an hour earlier with bigger names.
Cricket? No problems, because there was the beginning of the fifth Ashes test in Sydney from 3pm, a combination of HRV Cup Twenty20 and Big Bash games, and the Pakistan v Sri Lanka test match to change one's mood from 6.30pm.
Mercifully, Flipkens lifted her game a few notches in the second set.
The world's best player in June 2008, Ivanovic had to come out of cruise control as Flipkens pushed her to 7-6 before the former prevailed in the tie-breaker, 7-3.
The crowd, enigmatically, seemed to be applauding the Belgian every time she scored a point with a tad more enthusiasm, perhaps in fearing they wouldn't have to troop down to nearby watering holes to finish off their big day out.
If Ivanovic, who has had a bubble-gum impact in the tennis world but appears to be ascending to the higher echelons of competition, has any serious doubles aspirations then she should quickly start looking for another playing partner.
Was Flipkens having a bad day?
Perhaps, but it's a classic reminder that having one or two drawcards doesn't necessarily equate to success.
Williams, also, was guilty of making countless unforced errors, but the 33-year-old's Amazonian presence and wicked serves/returns, despite battling illness, are crowd pleasers.
Sure, classic organisers should take a bow for having lured five-time Wimbledon champion veteran Williams and one Grand Slam winner Ivanovic, who both earned their appearance fees before the latter's 2-1 victory in the final.
It's always going to be hard to lure Serena Williams here, even if Venus plays the sister card.
Apart from the one-hour longer flight time from Auckland to Melbourne for the Aussie Open (as opposed to Brisbane to Melbourne), the prize money is always going to be loose change in the WTA market.
Organisers here have indicated they won't be able to entertain all three, considering Ivanovic has said she will return to defend her title.
For players like her, winning a minor title here is the perfect mental elixir before the Open.
Not so for the Serena types, who will be craving for some pedigree workout.
Besides, dropping Ivanovic (unless there's a must-defend-title clause, minus the trimmings) is unthinkable although Serena won the Brisbane title last weekend, so it may be a futile exercise.
With homegrown players' (men included for Heineken Open) inability to survive even with wild card entries, it is imperative the field for the classic must have enough pedigree players to maintain a modicum of wow factor throughout the tourney.
All of the above apply to the men's Heineken Open in progress in Auckland, with Frenchman Gael Monfils, a main drawcard, withdrawing due to fatigue after losing to Rafael Nadal.
Will securing Serena at all cost entice other bigger names?
She's certainly the joker in the pack but the question is how will the classic big cheese play that card, if at all, if it is dealt to them?
