From The Herald Sun: Serb star joins peace chorus
SERBIAN starlet Ana Ivanovic said yesterday the clash between Serbian and Croatian supporters at the Open on Monday had made her fear for her safety...
Ivanovic was relieved on two counts yesterday: that there was no repeat of Monday's violence and that she escaped the heat after just 56 minutes.
"It's sad what happened and, hopefully, they will learn a lesson," the 13th seed said.
Ana Ivanovic's site has posted a translation of a feature interview she did with Gazzetta dello Sport Sportweek recently - here are some excerpts:
...Keeping an eye on her (and above all, us) is her father, Miroslav, a colossal man who wouldn’t look out of place in a rugby team. Talking to him, one quickly realises just how popular Ana has become in her home country: “As soon as she came close to the Top 10, everything changed. I work as a consultant for a telecommunications company, and I assure you that I’ve seen my contracts increase three-fold. All because I’m Ana Ivanovic’s Father”
Your future seems certain. You’re pretty, sought after by sponsors. People are talking about you as the new Sharapova…
It’s strange, Sharapova doesn’t say a word to anyone, whereas I talk, smile, laugh!...
Wow, talk about some brutal first round matches: Daniela Hantuchova v. Tatiana Golovin (Hantuchova won in straights); Venus Williams (in her first tournie since Wimbledon) v. Ana Ivanovic, and Schiavone v. Michaela Krajicek. Here's the draw.
I'm kind of loving the NY Times' coverage of the US Open this year, and I am really enjoying the blog. Interesting tidbits: Andrei Pavel's emmy-worthy performance as foil to the American hero; TIF (The Immaculate Federer) was the one major player who came over to Donald Young to wish him luck in the locker room; Ljubicic's sorry support; and Federer = what musician?
Sure it's a bit late, but congratulations to Ana Ivanovic on her breakthrough Tier One win against Martina Hingis on Monday in Montreal. I saw the rain delayed finish of the Safina-Ivanovic match on Sunday and was impressed by Ivanovic's game. I think she's got a real shot at a Semi at the Open. (Also congrats to Martina Navratilova for winning the doubles w/ Petrova as she goes into her last tournament.)
And speaking of Hingis, these bits just makes me chuckle for some reason:
"We never played together during our younger days because I was always busy playing with girls and boys three years older than me when I was 14 or 15. However, I do remember that he (Roger Federer) was my ballboy at one of the Basel tournaments (laughs). That was funny."
"A lot of the great players have been injured. I used to play Lindsay, Monica, Jennifer, the Williams sisters -- all of us were beating Mauresmo. And now she's No. 1 and she's more confident. Sometimes in tennis it's about the last one standing."
That Martina.
I woke up an hour ago and just now realized that I hadn't seen the rain-delayed Ana Ivanovic-Martina Hingis final on TV yesterday, with Pam Shriver, John McEnroe and Feliciano Lopez "judging" (god knows what; I don't remember anymore), and with Patrick McEnroe commentating on the fact that Feli turns heads and is a great pick for the panel.
Disturbing. I never have dreams I'm not in. I feel like I'm crossing some sort of fandom threshold.
Regardless, speaking of finals, Andy Roddick beat Juan Carlos Ferrero for Cincinnati, his first title of the year, and a spot in the top 10. With the victory, he also wins the US Open series and has serious OOMF going into the US Open. Roddick was back to his old self out there--spectacular serving, big stick strutting, firing himself up--as well as looking much more comfortable at net. Jimmy Connors, well done. Dare we say it? Andy seems to have finally found his mojo.
ETA: Here's a good piece on the revitalized Roddick from Tom Perrotta: For Roddick, Timing May Be Key to Success
Also, the lovely Feliciano Lopez (pictured) is blogging from New Haven this week. He dishes a bit on doubles partner and best buddy Rafael Nadal--Rafa's in New Haven to practice (he'll be hitting with James Blake (!) today), but so far it's pretty uninspired stuff.
Nice piece on Ana Ivanovic's growing popularity (thanks for the tip, Tom!). Read 'Ivanovic hits hard and gets plenty of hits on Web'
Don't want to Make Every Shot (pause) A Power Shot? Ana Ivanovic (News/Posts) and Daniela Hantuchova are the latest tennis starlets hawking camera equipment, this time for Sony Ericsson.
Here's a bit of good pre-Monday handicapping:
Baghdatis must now face up to the serious business
Good look at Murray and Baghdatis' history in the juniors and Marcos' tournament so far.
Berdych has the talent to ruffle Federer
Federer says he fears Berdych.
Ana Issues Warning to Mauresmo
Did you know they both live in Switzerland?
Also, Matt Cronin at tennisreporters.net has made his Monday picks.
Here's the women's draw. Venus landed at the bottom of Mauresmo's quarter of the draw and so did 14th seed Dinara Safina. Other trouble spots: a newly brunette Tatiana Golovin and Ana Ivanovic who's already beaten Amelie this year. Michaela Krajicek, who's still having a great week in Nottingham, is a potential 2nd round match up for Mauresmo.
Sharapova's section looks pretty straightforward until Dementieva in the quarters, though Schiavone, Sania Mirza, and Danilidou, who made the semis at the Ordina Open, could add some spice.
Hingis, Hantuchova, Jamea Jackson and Patty Schnyder are in Justine Henin-Hardenne's section of the draw. Will be interesting to see if Hingis can reach the massive roadblock that is Justine.
At the bottom of the draw, there are a few threats between #5 seed Kuznetsova and #2 seed Kim Clijsters: Vaidisova, Na Li and Kirilenko.
News: Petrova's pulled out with her lingering groin injury from the French.
Well, the most important tennis rankings are out.
For the men, the Spanish Armada is, of course, well represented in the top 10-- Rafael Nadal, Feliciano Lopez, Juan Carlos Ferrero. And apparently bald is also beautiful, with 2 shiny domes making the cut.
For the women, the top 10 is dominated by the Russians and sort-of Russians: Myskina, Dementieva, Kirilenko, Golovin and Sharapova.
I must say I disagree with the rankings. Ivanovic, Venus, Dementieva and Mirza are IMHO the most beautiful women on tour; and the spaniards should clearly have a lock on the top 4 (Feli first, and where is Moya?), and the absence of Ancic and Nalbandian is obviously poor judgement. (Roddick, top 10? Blasphemy!)
From The Sydney Morning Herald: The other Serb is finally taken at face value
NOT many people noticed the other girl who had flown in from Serbia and Montenegro to train at Melbourne Park last month. The one who wasn't fleeing an unpleasant family situation, resuming her Australian citizenship and trying to rebuild her shattered confidence. The one who is successfully fulfilling her vast potential.
However, Ana Ivanovic's 6-3, 7-5 victory over second seed Amelie Mauresmo at the Sydney International yesterday should ensure the other Serb's face might be a bit more familiar when she returns to the Australian Open next week.
The 18-year-old Ivanovic, who has family in Melbourne, accepted an "unofficial invitation" to train at Melbourne Park during the annual Tennis Australia camp in December. While she was not part of the official proceedings, she was given full use of the facilities and hit with some of the locals, including reborn "local" Dokic.
The latest BBC diary entry is from Ana Ivanovic who so far is doing a good job of following up her French Open quarterfinal breakthrough. She'll face Mary Pierce in the third round tomorrow and I guess we'll get to see if Mary's French Open final was a fluke or a return to form. I'd bet on Ivanovic myself.
"I've played at Wimbledon before as a junior but it's really different playing here as a professional - I feel much more confident.
Within just one year I'm already seeded, so it's a really big step for me and I enjoy playing here...
Away from tennis, I've had some offers to do modelling but I haven't done any yet...
Before a match I don't play music, I try to be on my own for a while and just concentrate."
The Guardian has a feature on Ana Ivanovic today: Fastest riser through the ranks
When Ana Ivanovic was 11 she went out to the practice courts in Belgrade to take her mind off the war. "I was a little bit afraid at first. But then you realised that they were not bombing everything, just special buildings."
Even now life can be awkward. "I have so many problems getting visas to go abroad. They want us to use the nationality Serbia-Montenegro but then in our passports we are Yugoslav." Yet, if these logistical problems, coupled with the vivid childhood memories of the troubles and the turmoil, might lead anybody to suppose that this 17-year-old would be short of confidence or conviction, they would be wrong.
Check out this comment about Serbian Ana Ivanovic on the official Warsaw tournament website following her loss in the semifinals to Justine Henin-Hardenne.
"For someone so young Ana seems very composed and imperturbable. It's as if she wasn't Balkan at all."
I haven't the foggiest idea what they're talking about, but I want to know who's writing for the J& S tournament site. They've been entertainingly tongue-in-cheek and non-politically correct all week long.
Serbian teen sensation Ana Ivanovic moved up the tennis food chain even more by defeating world #10 Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday in Warsaw. And showing a public relations sense wise beyond her seventeen years, she had a ready answer when the Polish press asked her who she'd like to face in the quarterfinals. " I never played against Domachowska or Dechy. I remember Marta from some juniors' tournaments. She was always very friendly, so I'd like her to win." Pole Marta Domachowska lost and Ivanovic will face Nathalie Dechy after all, but Ivanovic definitely scored some points with the Polish press.
The WTA site has an interview with 17-year-old Serbian Ana Ivanovic about her quick success on the WTA Tour: The Rapid Rise of Ana Ivanovic
Ivanovic looks like she has a great tennis future ahead of her, but she may be just a bit optimistic about her goals for this year:
"I would like to be Top 20 by the end of the year," Ivanovic said. "Even more important for me is to improve the level of my game and also to work on my serve."
