Ivanovic Improves in Second Match

Ivanovic looked much more confident in her second round match then she did in her previous match. Her ball toss was less erratic, and she hit enough winners to make up for her unforced errors. Ivanovic dispatched of the Italian qualifier, Alberta Brianti 6-3 6-2.

Ivanovic was the first to break in the opening set, however she saw her own serve broken right back. Ivanovic didn't get down on herself and she was able to get another break and a 5-2 lead. Brianti served at 9 deuce game which saw Ivanovic earn 2 set points, but the Italian forced Ivanovic to serve out the set, which she did easily.

Ivanovic started the second set with a bang quickly breaking Brianti twice to lead 3-0. Ivanovic was then lost 2 straight games. Ivanovic was able to pick her game right back up to take the next three games and the match. Ivanovic will face the 29th seed Alisa Kleybanova in the third round.

"You know, I think I improved a lot since my first match, Ivanovic said. I'm very pleased with that. But, you know, there is still some areas I have to work on and improve. As you progress through the tournament you come against tougher opponents, so, you know, you automatically raise your level. I think I still have to work a little bit on my serve. It was much better today, but it's still something I need to improve."

When asked if Ivanovic feels more pressure this year compared to last year Ivanovic said no because she had this pressure at last years French Open where she came into that as the defending finalist and was able to use the pressure to win her first grand slam title.

Ivanovic Slides Into Second Round

After a not so stunning performance in Brisbane, Ana Ivanovic went down to Melbourne for the first grandslam of the year with little confidence. It showed in her opening match as her shots were very tenative and her ball toss was all over the place. Although Ivanovic faced technical problems, she was able to advance into the second round with a 7-5 6-3 victory against the German Julia Goerges.

The first set was tight by both players. Goerges got the early break to get ahead 3-1, and even had a break point to serve with a 4-1 advantage, but was unable to convert. Ivanovic then went on a tear of 10 straight points to lead 4-3. Ivanovic had an opportunity to serve out the opening set when she gave herself 4 break points, but mental mistakes from the Serb failed that chance. Both players were able to hold serve for 5-5, but it was experience from Ivanovic that was able to get the break and serve out the first set 7-5.

Ivanovic look as if she was going to run away with the match when she opened up the second set with a break. However, Goerges wasn't ready to fold and she broke right back. Both players then held serve to 3-3 with many tight games. Ivanovic finally found her form that got her to the final last year and was able to win the last three games to take the match.

Ivanovic's next opponent is the Italian qualifier, Alberta Brianti. The two have never faced each other before.

"It took me some time to adjust to [the play of Goerges] in the beginning," Ivanovic said. "But I'm very happy that I took opportunities I had. It was very, very close first set. In the second set, it was lot of games with deuce and advantage. But [was] very happy to keep my composure in important moments. You know, I expect tough [matches] every match I step on the court. Obviously you want to work your way into tournament."

Ivanovic Falls To Mauresmo

The first 5 gaves of the match made it look like there was going to be another thriller in Brisbane, but unfornutaly for the top seed, Ana Ivanovic, it didn't go that way. Ivanovic led Amelie Mauresmo in the first set at 3-2, but the Frenchwoman proved to strong and was able to take the next four games to win the opening set 6-3.

Ivanovic didn't have what it took to make another comeback, and Mauresmo gave up just two games in the second set, taking the match 6-3 6-2. Mauresmo's consistent play and good hands at net were key factors to her winning today. Ivanovic will take a week off to prepare for the Australian Open. He main focus of training is her serve and consistency.

""I was pretty happy with my first two matches," Ivanovic said. "After last night's match I didn't have much time to recover… and I didn't have the energy to dig deep again. But in Melbourne I'm going to be practicing and playing lots of sparring. I just have to get more consistent and work more on my serve."

Ana Fights Into the Quarters

It was a tough day for Ana Ivanovic, but she managed to fight back against Italian, Roberta Vinci, and sees herself in the quarterfinals of Brisbane.

Ana's form was questionable in the opening set, having to save a set point 5-4 down. She was able to save that set point, and push the set into a tiebreak. Ivanovic struggled, and was only able to win four points. Ivanovic surrended the first set 7-6(4).

Ivanovic was now a set down, and had to win the next two sets if she wanted to continue in Brisbane. Things didn't start off too great for the Serb, and Vinci's momentum seemed to make her unbeatable, getting to a 3-1 lead. Ivanovic was able to break right back, but saw herself down again. Ivanovic was serving down 5-4 and two match points at 15-40. It was at this moment that things started to click for Ivanovic. Her serve began to improve, and she cut back on the unforced errors. Ivanovic was able to even the match by taking the second set 7-5.

Ivanovic never looked back once the third set began. She was able to finish things off losing just one game, and taking the match 6-7(4) 7-5 6-1. Ivanovic's next opponent is fifth seed, Amelie Mauresmo, who also had to save match points in her second round winning in a third set tiebreak against fellow Frenchwoman Julie Coin.

Mauresmo leads the head to head 5-2, but the two haven't played since Mauresmo was world No.1, which seems like decades ago.

Here is what Ivanovic had to save after her nail-biting match.

"I'm glad I hung in there to the end and believed in myself," Ivanovic said. "I just kept thinking about all the hard work I put in during the last few weeks and I didn't want to lose here this early."

"My serve didn't work like it did in the previous match so I'll have to work on improving that. She played really well and made me work extremely hard for it."

Ivanovic Opens The New Year With A Win

All Ivanovic fans were curious as to how the Serbian would start the new season. Thankfully she was able to please them as she won her opening match in Brisbane, Australia.

Her first round opponent was Czech Petra Kvitova, currently ranked just inside the top 50 at No. 44.

Both players had rust in their first match of the year, and it showed as the first four games went to deuce. The two were even at 4-4 in the first set, but it was the higher ranked of the two that was able to convert on the big points, and eventually took the set 6-4.

Ivanovic continued to play well, and was able to not look back after winning the first set. Ivanovic just surrendered two games in the second set as she took it in just about half an hour. The win moves her into the second round where she will face Roberta Vinci.

Ivanovic was pleased with her win, and hopes to continue playing well for the rest of the week.

"It is always tough, the first match and it was just a matter of hanging in and waiting for opportunities, Ivanovic said. I’m very happy to get this victory. I had to fight for each point, it was good in the first match of the year. You want to get into your rhythm.

Welcome to my blog

Greetings everyone!
I'm starting this blog to write about my favorite tennis player, Ana Ivanovic.
I will be following her thoughout the 2009 season, and will update this after every match.
I hope that through reading this, I will gain experience as a journalist, and that I can increase Ivanovic's fanbase.

A Look Back

Althought Ana Ivanovic ended the year one spot lower then when she started, she had the best year of her career so far, which included a grand slam title and the number 1 ranking.



She started off with a bang. She made the semifinals in Sydney, where she got a set off of Henin for the first time. Then at the Australian Open she defeated Venus Williams for the first time, and made a comeback in the semifinals, trailing 6-0 2-0 to Daniela Hantuchova. Although she lost the championship match to Maria Sharapova, she left Australia with her spirits high.



Ivanovic saw her first title of the season come at Indian Wells. She defeated five seeds along the way, including her fellow Serbian, Jelena Jankovic.



Miami wasn't as pleasing as Indian Wells. Ivanovic her second match against the comeback of the new mother, Lindsay Davenport in straight sets.



Next up for Ivanovic was to defend her title in Berlin. Although she made it to the semifinals, Ivanovic wasn't looking like she was playing at her best, and eventually lost to Elena Dementieva in straight sets. She then had a disappointing showing in Rome, losing in her opening match to Tsvetana Pironkova in three sets.



After a poor performance at Berlin and Rome, trying to defend her championship appearance in Roland Garros didn't look likely to happen. The Williams sisters were in her side of the draw didn't help any either. But as the tournament progressed, Ivanovic started to find her form. She even had a double bagel win in the round of 16. With the Williams sisters both out before the quarterfinals, the draw opened up for Ivanovic. She faced her countrywoman in the semifinal. It was a rollercoaster match, with both players gaining leads, but losing them. But in the end it was Ivanovic who came out on top and progressed to her second straight Roland Garros Final. Her opponent, Dinara Safina, was having a terrific clay court season and was the woman who sent Justine Henin to retirement. Both players seemed nervous in the match, but it was Safina, who had spent a lot of time on the court before this match who seemed to be worn out and Ivanovic took advantage to win her first grandslam, which also raised her to the top of the rankings.



Like any player would tell you, being at the top of the game can make you nervous. You are expected to win all your matches now, and dominate your early round opponents. The second half of the year showed that Ivanovic is human like the rest of us.



After destroying her first round opponent at Wimbledon, it looked as if Ivanovic would have another great performance like she did the year before. However, things didn't go as planned. Ivanovic faced Nathalie Dechy in the second round, and they both took part in the best match of the year, and one of the best matches in history. Ivanovic had to save two match points in the second set, on one of the points she hit a ball that just barely creeped over the net. Ivanovic went on the win the comeback match 6-7(2) 7-6(3) 10-8. Notably not herself, Ivanovic then lost in the third round to wildcard and 133rd ranked Jie Zheng in straight sets.



The next five tournaments didn't go well. She failed to even win two matches in a row. She lost in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open to a player ranked 188th, the lowest player to ever beat a number ranked player.



However, Ivanovic started to find her form again in Zurich where she lost in the semifinals to Venus Williams in a close three set encounter.



She then went on the win her next tournament in Linz, defeating two top 10 players in a row.



Having qualified for the Tour Championships in Qatar, Ivanovic was placed in the white group along with fellow Serbian, Jelena Jankovic, and Russians, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva. Unfortunately, her resent form didn't come to Qatar with Ivanovic. She lost to both Zvonareva and Jankovic before withdrawing due to a virus. Agniezka Radwanska took her place.

Ivanovic's 2008 season was a rollercoaster to her and her fans. Hopefully 2009 will just be better.