Ana Ivanovic on the rise

This past week I was able to attend the Western & Southern Women’s Tennis Open here in Cincinnati.

I was impressed by the new facility. The new media floor is incredible. But there was something that impressed me more than the new building. More like a someone… Ana Ivanovic. Sure, she’s not ranked No. 1 anymore (in fact she’s fallen to No. 62 in the world), but there’s more to her than a ranking. Ivanovic won the most high profile upset of the tournament. She defeated No. 12 Victoria Azarenka in the first round, playing her best match since May. That win was enough to inspire talk of an Ivanovic comeback, but as the tournament continued she gave even more reason for that talk. Ivanovic found her way to the semi-finals of the tournament, after playing what she called one of her best matches in awhile, against Akman Amanmuradova.

In 2008, Ivanovic won the French Open, propelling her to No. 1 in the world. But then she lost to No. 133 Zheng Jie at Wimbledon, and lost early in the second round of the U.S. Open. Then in 2009, she lost in the fourth round of the French Open, which dropped her out of the Top 10.  That was quickly followed by a first round loss at the U.S. Open, which moved her out of the top 20 for the first time since 2006. A lot of people said she just couldn’t handle the emotional/mental side of being at the top. But she’s trying to find the fun and passion she had when she played as a 16 or 17 year old. And she is beginning to resemble her former self. "In some ways probably (I'm) better, I think, because I'm being more aggressive than I was back then," said Ivanovic of her previous success. "When you're young and upcoming and you win lots of the matches, you definitely take things for granted. That's what I definitely don't do anymore. But in some way I feel like I'm different player and more mature one."

She also got a new coach. Ivanovic hired Marija Lojanica a month ago, which she credits as a factor in her better play. Lojanica has been helpful off the court as well, “Yeah, I mean, just having fun, you know. She’s a girl, so we can go shopping together, watch movies, do our nails. It just keeps your mind off tennis,” said Ivanovic, giggling. “Because you know, in the past, you’re with male coaches, and you do a job and go back to the room. I really like to read. It was sort of relaxing. But then after all, you spent all day in a room, it gets kind of depressing.”

Her new coach, not taking things for granted, and having fun seemed to work for Ivanovic as she played her way into the semi-finals. She may have even made it to the finals, but was forced to retire in the semis during her match against Kim Clijsters due to an ankle injury. Sadly, her spectacular run came to an end only 12 minutes into the match.

Her time in Cincinnati proved to be the beginning of rejuvenation for Ivanovic, and even though it ended earlier than she expected, I don’t think that will stop her. She’s finally having fun on the court again, playing well and is visibly happy. I’ll enjoy watching Ana as she continues to rise.

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