Ana Ivanovic

Just thinking about Ana's left glute cheers me up...

An MRI scan of her left glute muscle showed that Ana Ivanovic did not suffer a serious injury when she retired midway through her semifinal against Maria Sharapova at Indian Wells. Ivanovic’s web site reported that the scan showed inflammation and that she will attempt to practice in Miami on Wednesday, ahead of her first match at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Tennis Magazine.

Ivanovic unfazed by loss in Sydney International

SYDNEY: Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic believes the strength of women's tennis means that anyone in the draw can win the Australian Open.

Ivanovic's preparations for Melbourne Park suffered on Sunday, however, with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 loss to Lucie Safarova in the opening round at the Sydney International.

But the out-of-sorts Serb retained belief she would be one of the dozens of players in the hunt to win the Australian Open, starting on January 16.

The first round loss for Ivanovic, the former world number one and 2008 French Open champion, followed an early second round loss at Brisbane last week.

On Sunday, she was left to rue missing a regulation smash at 5-5 in the first set tiebreaker, revealing the unforced error played on her mind for the remainder of the match.

"The whole first set came down to that one point," Ivanovic told reporters.

"Obviously it happens, it was just a very bad moment for it to happen. It's a shot I feel very confident at. It's definitely a little bit disappointing, but it happens and it took me a lot of time to recover.

"It's tough. I keep replaying that shot in my mind throughout the whole match. I felt like that was the turning point. But still I came out in the second set and I served really well the first couple of games and had some chances.

"I feel my game is still there. I have lost but it gives me time to go to Melbourne with plenty of time to tune up a few things.

"I had a good off-season and I just want to try and keep at it. It would be great to have a result straight away but sometimes it's a process and it takes time."

EASY MATCH

The four women's majors had four different winners last year: Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open, Li Na at the French Open, Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon and Sam Stosur at the U.S. Open.

With the Australian Open beginning at Melbourne Park next week, Ivanovic believes the number of good players on tour make it hard to call a winner at Melbourne Park.

"When I first started on tour I felt like the first few rounds the seeds would have an easy match," the Serb said.

"Now from the first round you have tough opponents. Everyone is playing well and aggressive and you really have to be tough from the first match on.

"Anyone, basically, can win. That's exciting for everyone because everyone who is in the draw has the potential to go far."
http://bit.ly/xjHxIX

Ana Ivanovic working with boyfriend’s physio, Tina Maio

http://tinyurl.com/bnam5p8

Not much in this piece but still worth posting if just for the picture.
She's a knockout:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/girls-need-to-lighten-up-ana-ivanovic/story-e6frf9if-1226222622993

Ana returns

One of Brisbane’s favourites, Ana Ivanovic, is confirmed to return to the Brisbane International in 2012.

Announced today the Serbian tennis star is looking forward to starting her Australian Open preparation in Queensland.

“I am very excited to be coming back to Brisbane next year,” Ivanovic said.

“I really enjoyed playing at the event in 2009 and 2010 and I’m looking forward to returning in January. It is one of my favourite times of the year and I love competing in Australia.

“The people are very friendly and open and I love the culture. Everyone is just so relaxed and easy going and laid back and that is what I really like.

“One of the main motivations for me to return to Brisbane is the upgrading to a Premier event. It was a great event already as an International, but now with the improvements they have made and a stronger player field, it’s an important event for me leading into the Australian Open.

“I have always had great support in Brisbane and I hope it will be the same in 2012.

“I reached the quarterfinals in 2009 and the semis in 2010 so it would be nice to make it to the final this time round. My goal is to win it.”

Brisbane International Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said he is thrilled that Ivanovic has committed to playing the Brisbane International next year.

“Ana is a huge drawcard for tennis fans in Queensland where she has always been popular, and I look forward to welcoming her back in 2012” Pearson said.

“Ana is a former French Open champion and her commitment is yet another endorsement of the event, which just gets bigger.

“Ana will be joined by fellow Grand Slam champions, Australia’s own Sam Stosur, current Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in what will be the toughest contest seen in the women’s draw since the tournament commenced.”
http://bit.ly/pHk0ul

lol

@Sheldon: Yes. I wonder if there's a pattern here... ;)

@Paulmurphy - hmmm, Nigel Spears coached Amanda Coetzer and Hantuchova, and now Ana Ivanovic...lucky man.

@Dave, you may be interested in this:

The head of British women's tennis quit Thursday to become the new coach of former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic.

Nigel Sears spent 4½ years as a head coach at the Lawn Tennis Association and was also the captain of Britain's Fed Cup team.

Ivanovic has struggled to maintain the form that won her the French Open in 2008 at age 20. She is currently ranked No. 18.

"I couldn't be happier," said Ivanovic, who was runner-up at Roland Garros in 2007 and at the 2008 Australian Open. "I've admired Nigel for some time now and I can't wait to start working with him on court.

"It was important that I waited for the right coach, and we are both excited about the challenges ahead."

During Sears' time at the LTA, five British women broke into the world's top 100 -- two in the top 50 -- and two girls won Junior Grand Slam titles.

"It's been a real privilege to be in charge of women's tennis at the LTA ... and I feel we've made considerable progress in the women's game over this period," he said.

Sears previously worked with Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova and South Africa's Amanda Coetzer when both were ranked in the top 10.


Source: The Associated Press.