Ana Ivanovic Blog

Ana felled by Azarenka

2009-06-02T21:39:00.001-07:00

Ana's French Open came to an end thanks to a 6-2, 6-3 defeat against ninth seed Victoria Azarenka. The match lasted 72 minutes and means that, for the first time since 2006, Ana will not be present in the final day of the second Grand Slam of the year.

The loss in her first meeting against Azarenka also denied Ana the chance of a rematch of the 2008 final against Russian and No.1 Dinara Safina, who would have been her opponent in quarter-finals.

Azarenka displayed steady aggression, harmful backhand shots and the confidence she had earned after her victory at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami to upset the defending champion.

The Belarusian earned the first break of serve thanks to a sizzling cross-court backhand passing-shot to take a 3-1 lead. From that moment on, Azarenka had control of most rallies as the 21-year-old appeared short of energy.

The 2008 champion could not control Azarenka's powerful, flat backhand and lost her serve once more when he sent a backhand wide after an intense rally. She asked for the trainer during the change of ends and later spoke of feeling dizzy. Azarenka closed the set when Ana netted a forehand.

Unfortunately for her supporters, the very first game of the second set offered no change. Ana saved three break points but couldn't succeed on the fourth one. The Belarusian grew in confidence and added points and games to her quest, while Ana continued to appear jaded.

The crowd gathered in the Suzanne Lenglen Stadium only had one favourite and her name was Ana. They started cheering for her noisily and she used that energy to get one break back and serve at 2-4. but her opponent hit two backhand winners to take a decissive 5-2 lead.

Ana raised the fan's voice once more when she earned her last break of serve, but missed two backhands in a row to finally lose the match.

Ana ended the match with 24 winners and 20 unforced errors. She enjoyed a warm ovation from the crowd as she left the court.

"I started really well, and I felt really good in the beginning," said Ana. "But later on during the match I started to feel very dizzy.

"She played very well today and the better player won. I'm obviously extremely disappointed with this loss, but there isn't much time to get too down about it because the grass season is just around the corner. That's a positive thing."

Ana vs Tanasugarn

2009-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ana is set to face world No.52 Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday. It will be the first meeting between the pair.

Tanasugarn reached round two thanks to a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Frenchwoman Camille Pin. Ana, meanwhile, beat world No.44 Sara Errani 7-6, 6-3.

Tanasugarn, who turned 31 on Monday, is playing in her 12th French Open tournament. Her best showing so far is a third round finish in 2002. The Thai is perhaps best-known for her performances at Wimbledon, where she has reachd the second week no fewer than seven times, including a quarter-final appearance last year.

During last year's grass court season she scored victories over the likes of former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic, current world No.1 Dinara Safina and world No.6 Vera Zvonareva.

Ana said: "She's a very experienced player and she's consistent. I know she will bring a lot of balls back, and I'm going to have to be patient in order to come through this match. I'm looking forward to it."

Rain in Paris caused delays to matches on Tuesday, so Wednesday's schedule could be affected. Click here for live point-by-point scoring from Paris.

Like it or not, Jankovic is No. 1

2008-08-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Jelena Jankovic will become the new No. 1 in women’s tennis on Monday when the updated rankings are posted.

Yes, that Jelena Jankovic - the player who owns a mere six career titles and has never played in a Grand Slam final.

The 23-year-old Serbian will have 3,620 points as of Monday, moving just eight points ahead of countrywoman Ana Ivanovic, who has held down the top spot since here maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.

Because her resume is missing a major title, many tennis observers have questioned whether Jankovic is truly deserving of being the 18th No. 1 player in the history of the sport.

Shock!! Ivanovic ousted at Wimbledon

2008-06-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

The top-seeded Serb was upset, 6-1, 6-4, by Chinese wild card Jie Zheng in third-round action at the grasscourt major Friday.

“It’s tough, but she played well today,” Ivanovic said. “It was a tough match for me, but I just look at it as a learning learning experience.”

Ivanovic had reached this stage after surviving scare on Wednesday, when she escaped with a 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-3), 10-8 victory over Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy.

The reigning French Open champion saved a pair of match points in the second set of that match. On the second of those match points saved, the top-ranked Ivanovic caught a break when a return shot clipped the top of the net and dropped softly to Dechy’s side of the court.

Ivanovic officially takes over at No. 1

2008-06-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

PARIS (AP)—French Open champion Ana Ivanovic officially moved up to No. 1 in the WTA Tour rankings for the first time Monday, replacing Maria Sharapova at the top.

Ivanovic is the 17th woman, and first representing Serbia, to be No. 1.

She entered the French Open at a career-high No. 2, but overtook Sharapova, who lost in the fourth round.

“Being No. 1 now holds more pressure,” Ivanovic said after beating Dinara Safina in straight sets in Saturday’s championship match. “But you’re also a professional athlete, and if you want to achieve your goals, you have to learn how to handle the pressure.”

ส่วนที่จะให้แสดง

Safina rose from No. 14 to No. 9, matching her career high.

Sharapova is now No. 2, followed by the losing semifinalists at Roland Garros, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova. Jankovic would have risen to No. 1 if she had beaten Ivanovic in their semifinal.

Elena Dementieva rose from No. 8 to No. 5. Serena Williams slipped one spot to No. 6, and Venus Williams stayed at No. 7. Both Williams sisters lost in the third round at Roland Garros.

There was no change in any of the top six spots in the ATP rankings, with French Open champion Rafael Nadal staying at No. 2 for the 151st consecutive week. The man he beat 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 in Sunday’s championship match, Roger Federer, remains at No. 1, extending his record by sitting atop the rankings for the 228th consecutive week.

Novak Djokovic, the Australian Open champion who lost to Nadal in the French Open semifinals, is still No. 3, followed by Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer and No. 6 Andy Roddick.

James Blake moved up one spot to No. 7, with David Nalbandian falling to No. 8. Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet round out the top 10.

Ana Ivanovic wins French Open 2008

2008-06-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic claimed her first grand slam title with a 6-4 6-3 win over Russia’s Dinara Safina in the French Open final on Saturday.

The second seed became the first woman representing Serbia to win a major title.

Ana Ivanovic Interview before Roland Garros Final

2008-06-06T19:29:00.001-07:00

Ana Ivanovic French Open 2008 Pics

2008-06-06T19:20:00.001-07:00

PREVIEW-Ana Ivanovic eager to face never-say-die Safina

2008-06-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, June 6 (Reuters) - Ana Ivanovic will have to deal with the added pressure of being the favourite if she is to lift her first grand slam title in the French Open final against Russian survivor Dinara Safina on Saturday.

The second seed, last year’s runner-up, is assured of the world number one ranking whatever happens against the 13th-seeded Safina, who knocked out previous incumbent Maria Sharapova in the fourth round at Roland Garros.

She suffered heavy defeats to Henin and to Sharapova in the Australian Open final in January, but against the world number 14, she is the undoubted favourite.

However, Safina is a tough nut to crack, as Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova can vouch.

Ivanovic will move up to No. 1 in rankings for 1st time

2008-06-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ana Ivanovic is assured of becoming the 17th woman—and first from Serbia—to be ranked No. 1, regardless of how she fares in the French Open final.

She will move up from No. 2 when the WTA Tour’s new rankings are issued Monday, replacing Maria Sharapova in the top spot.

Ivanovic and two other women, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, all had a chance to take over at No. 1 after Sharapova lost in the fourth round at Roland Garros.

But Ivanovic beat Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the semifinals Thursday, while Kuznetsova lost to Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2.

The 20-year-old Ivanovic, who will play Safina in the final Saturday, said she wasn’t aware she had clinched the No. 1 ranking by beating Jankovic until after the match.

Ana Ivanovic on FOX TV SERBIA

2008-05-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ana Ivanovic on FOX TV SERBIA

Ana Ivanovic losing to Tsvetana Pironkova

2008-05-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ana Ivanovic reacts to losing a point to Tsvetana Pironkova during playing WTA Tennis Open match in Rome on May 14, 2008. and Pironkova won 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Ana Ivanovic on Chelsea TV

2008-03-15T21:40:00.001-07:00

Ana with Ioana Raluca Olaru in Pacific Life Open 2008

2008-03-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

return a shot to Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania, during their second round tennis match at the Pacific Life Open, Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Indian Wells, Calif.

reacts after winning a point over Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania during their second round tennis match at the Pacific Life Open, Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Indian Wells, Calif.

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia returns a shot to Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania during their second round tennis match at the Pacific Life Open, Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Indian Wells, Calif.

Jankovic and Davenport cruise, Ivanovic battles

2008-03-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Serbia’s world number four Jelena Jankovic and twice champion Lindsay Davenport coasted through their opening matches in the Pacific Life Open second round on Saturday.

Jankovic, shrugging off strong winds at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, crushed American wildcard Ahsha Rolle 6-0 6-2 and Davenport advanced when Argentina’s Gisela Dulko retired hurt with a thigh strain trailing 2-6.

However, world number two and top-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic had to fight back after losing the second set before defeating Romania’s Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-1 5-7 6-0 in a match lasting one hour, 55 minutes.

Jankovic, who reached her third grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open in January before losing to eventual winner Maria Sharapova, broke Rolle three times in each set to seal victory in just under an hour.

“The first rounds are always tough, especially in the windy conditions, and you have to be really focused and try to move your feet,” third-seeded Jankovic told reporters after surprisingly losing the first two games of the second set.

“That’s what I did today so I’m really glad with my performance. I’m happy to get through.”

American Davenport, champion at Indian Wells in 1997 and 2000 and runner-up here four times, broke in the opening game before Dulko summoned a fitness trainer when losing 2-3 on the Stadium Court.

Dulko, who lost to Davenport in the 2004 quarter-finals at Indian Wells in their only previous meeting, had her right thigh worked on and strapped up but was unable to continue after losing the first set.

HARD TIME

“I could tell she was having a really hard time moving to her right or to the forehand,” former world number one Davenport said.

“I wasn’t surprised when she stopped. She really didn’t seem like she could push off to her right side much at all.”

The 31-year-old Californian, who returned to the court last September after an 11-month absence to have a baby, said the windy conditions had presented a severe challenge.

“It was really tough out there today, especially since we had such a perfect week leading up to the windstorm that has come,” she added. “I was happy to end the match at that time.”

Ivanovic broke Olaru twice in the opening set and led 3-2 in the second before losing focus. The Romanian, gaining confidence, broke the Serb in the sixth and 12th games to level the match before Ivanovic regained form in the third.

“I was really upset when she broke me back at 3-2 in the second set and I just struggled to find my game little bit,” the 20-year-old said.

“I wasn’t moving enough and when it’s a windy day, we really have to focus on footwork and going around the ball. I didn’t do that well.

“In the third set, I just did what I should have done from the beginning, just being aggressive, staying low and moving around the ball. I’m happy just to be through and have opportunity to play better the next match.”

Earlier, sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France hammered Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-0 6-4 and Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, the 19th seed, swept past Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-1.

Qualifier Evgeniya Rodina upset 16th-seeded Virginie Razzano 6-0 6-7 6-2 and another Russian-French pairing saw 12th seed Vera Zvonareva scrape past Aravane Rezai 6-3 3-6 6-3.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Ivanovic tops Indian Wells field

2008-03-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

INDIAN WELLS, California (Ticker)—Ana Ivanovic, who has climbed to No. 2 in the world rankings, headlines the field for the $2.1 million Pacific Life Open, a Tier I hardcourt event which continues Thursday.

The 20-year-old Serbian enjoyed a breakout season last year, winning titles in Berlin, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, and has gotten off to a solid start in 2008 as well.

While she has yet to win a title this year, Ivanovic did reach the final of the Australian Open, where she lost to Russian Maria Sharapova, 7-5, 6-3.

Ivanovic, the top seed here, is joined by three of the world’s top-five ranked players, including countrywoman Jelena Jankovic, the No. 3 seed.

Among the top-five seeds are two Russians - No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 4 Sharapova - and No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, the defending champion.

None of the 32 seeded players, who have received first-round byes, are in action Thursday.

Hantuchova captured her second Pacific Life Open title last year, beating Kuznetsova in the final. She also won here in 2002.

The top American entered is No. 24 seed Lindsay Davenport, who is participating in one of her favorite tournaments, having won it twice.

A three-time Grand Slam winner, the 31-year-old Davenport is enjoying a renaissance after being off the tour from late September 2006 to mid September of last year.

She already has posted two titles this year while logging a 12-2 match record. One of those defeats came to Sharapova in the Australian Open.

Fellow American Serena Williams is not entered in the event after claiming her 29th career title and first of the year last week at Bangalore.

Also skipping the tournament is world No. 1 Justine Henin of Belgium, who lost in the quarterfinals two weeks ago at Dubai.

Completing the top seeds are No. 6 Marion Bartoli of France, No. 7 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic and No. 8 Dinara Safina of Russia. The top 32 seeds received byes into the second round.

A trio of players from the United States - Ashley Harkleroad, Angela Haynes and Jill Craybas - advanced during opening-round play Wednesday.

Among the six U.S. players in action Thursday are wild cards Madison Brengle and Ahsha Rolle, who will meet in the lone all-American match of the day.

First prize is $332,000.

New movie advertise of Ivanovic

2008-03-08T02:04:00.000-08:00

New movie advertise of Ivanovic

Ana Ivanovic in Karaoke

2008-03-08T01:59:00.000-08:00

Ana Ivanovic in Karaoke

Ivanovic-Dementieva QF final set Dubai 2008

2008-02-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

Ivanovic-Dementieva QF final set Dubai 2008 Video

Dubai Open women’s singles results

2008-02-28T17:28:00.000-08:00

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Dubai Open women's singles quarter-final
results on Thursday (prefix number denotes seeding, * denotes
new result)

* 8-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat 3-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 5-7
6-3 6-3
Francesca Schiavone (Italy) beat 1-Justine Henin (Belgium) 7-6
7-6
4-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 6-Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) 6-1
(Chakvetadze retired)
2-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Amelie Mauresmo (France)
6-1 7-6

Tour Dubai with Anna Ivanovic

2008-02-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

Top seeds Ivanovic, Kuznetsova out of Qatar Open

2008-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

By Barry Wood

DOHA, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Top-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic withdrew from the Qatar Open on Thursday after injuring her left ankle beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus the previous day.

The $2.5 million tournament then lost second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who was beaten 6-3 7-6 by Austrian left-hander Sybille Bammer.

Ivanovic, runner-up to Maria Sharapova at last month’s Australian Open, slipped on the baseline when leading Govortsova 6-3 5-1 and struggled to finish her second-round match on Wednesday.

“It’s still pretty painful and hard for me to step on. I’m very disappointed the way I had to end this tournament,” Ivanovic told reporters.

“I was icing my foot all night. I had to wake up every hour so I didn’t get much sleep but hopefully the team around me can help me to recover as fast as I can.”

Ivanovic said she had not suffered a major tear.

“It’s a strain, an overstretch of the ligaments,” she said. “There’s not any major tear, which is definitely good, but there are a few micro-tears there.

“I still get a lot of pain and have to keep icing my foot and keep it compressed and elevated to try to keep the inflammation down.”

Ivanovic hopes to compete at the Dubai Tennis Championships next week where, because of a first-round bye, she would not have to play until Wednesday.

UNDER PRESSURE

Kuznetsova had struggled to overcome windy conditions on Wednesday, and the weather again proved to be as much of a challenge as her opponent.

Bammer put Kuznetsova under pressure from the start, breaking in the opening game, and went on to take the set.

Kuznetsova then served for the second set at 5-4, and after holding four set points surrendered the match on Bammer’s fourth match point when she netted a backhand.

In the windy conditions, play was interrupted three times during the final point by paper blowing across the court.

“I started to play better in the end, but in these conditions it was pretty impossible to play a normal game,” Kuznetsova said. “Playing bad I still had chances, so this is disappointing.”

The Russian considered that play should not have taken place in such conditions.

“I think so, yes,” she said. “It was a few times in my head, ‘Will they cancel this because this is a disaster’. I couldn’t play the ball and it was embarrassing to stay there, but I was still fighting to try and get this match somehow.”

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

Ana Ivanovic Pic , Ana Ivanovic Photo

2008-02-17T07:03:00.001-08:00

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Anna Ivanovic an Henin to play at German Open

2008-02-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

The world's top two players, Belgian Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, will compete at the German Open WTA event in Berlin in May, tournament organisers said on Wednesday. Australian Open finalist Ivanovic won in Berlin last year, coming from a set down to beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova for her first title on clay, while Henin is a three-time champion in the German capital. The $1.34-million tournament, expected to attract several more of the world's top 10 players, runs from May 5-11.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, Editing by Clare Fallon)
from yahoo sport

Former champion Italy draws Ukraine in Fed Cup playoffs

2008-02-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

LONDON (AP) -- Former champion Italy will host Ukraine in April in World Group playoffs for the Fed Cup.

Italy was ousted by Spain 3-2 in the first round this year. The Italians beat Belgium 3-2 to win the 2006 title and lost 4-0 in last year's final.

France, the 2003 champion, was drawn Tuesday to play at Japan. France was upset by China 3-2 in the opening round but was missing No. 9 Marion Bartoli, No. 12 Tatiana Golovin and No. 18 Amelie Mauresmo.

Argentina will host Germany, which lost to the United States in the first round, and the Czech Republic will travel to Israel. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic guided Serbia to a win over Romania in zonal qualifying and will next play at Croatia for a chance reach World Group II in 2009.

Also in World Group II playoffs, Austria hosts Switzerland, Belgium travels to Colombia and Slovakia hosts Uzbekistan.

The best-of-five series for both playoff groups is April 26-27. That's the same time as the semifinals when Russia hosts the United States and Spain plays at China.