WTA Tour - Ivanovic ready for return

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Sep 09:09:00 2008

Ana Ivanovic believes she is ready to get back to winning ways when she returns to action in Tokyo this week.

TENNIS Ana Ivanovic - US Open - 0

Ivanovic, who was the world number one heading into the US Open last month, has also revealed that she values Grand Slam glory over a return to the top of the rankings.

The 20-year-old reached the pinnacle of women's tennis after winning her maiden Grand Slam at this year's French Open but has since slipped down to third after a thumb injury affected her form since that triumph in Paris.

Forced to skip August's Beijing Olympics, Ivanovic crashed out of the US Open in the second round but insisted she was pain-free ahead of this week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

"Finally, for the last two weeks I have no pain," Ivanovic said. "It was very tough [losing the number one ranking] so quickly.

"I really struggled to accept it because that was my dream for a long time and just as I achieved it this thing happened. I have been number one so I believe I can be there again.

"Being number one is a great reward but if you asked me at this moment what I would rather do, it's win another grand slam before I become number one again."

Serena Williams returned to the summit of the women's rankings after a five-year gap following her triumph at the US Open.

Ivanovic's fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic, the beaten finalist in New York, is the current number two and top seed in Tokyo, where six of the world's top 10 are appearing.

Russia's Olympic champion Elena Dementieva and compatriot Dinara Safina round out a closely bunched top-five players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

World number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova is the third Russian top-10 player in the draw for this week's $1.34 million tournament.

"It's exciting for women's tennis," Ivanovic said. "I think Serena's a great champion and it will be very tough to return to the top... but it's a great challenge."

Having already beaten Jankovic to a grand slam title, Ivanovic admitted there was added incentive in getting one over her countrywoman.

"I can't say we are friends," Ivanovic added. "Girls in general don't become very close on the tour but we motivate each other. If you see the other one winning you want to win too."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. Ana is SPOILED AND CONCEITED GIRL, INSINCERE, HYPOCRITE. She hate Jelena and her only aim is be better ranking than Jelena. And- she admit that! She can't be a friend with any girl who beat her! JJ is a much, much better person than Ana is!

    Tennis is a sport, not Miss contest. Does is matter if they pretty or not!? You can't say Serena is not beautiful, she is. Black, but beautiful. And play good tennis.

    COME ON, JJ, keep on smiling, be yourself and won this tournament! You deserve to be No1!

    From genius, on Thu 18 Sep 9:43AM

  2. CHARMING ANNA IVANOVIC IS A TREASURE TO PHOTOGRAPH

    ~~~~~~~~ WE HAVE HUNDREDS TAKEN AT WIMBLEDON ~~ PERFECT DIGITAL RECORDS

    From fototedlondona4, on Wed 17 Sep 7:11PM

  3. couldn't our multi millionairess ranking queen find something away from the courts
    to become occupied with her spare $$$$505 $$ millions

    From tttobyjug, on Tue 16 Sep 5:24PM

  4. they are not sporting stars nowadays ~~~ only callous business women

    From olga.wins, on Tue 16 Sep 5:04PM

  5. IF PLAYERS ON COURT ABUSE THEIR OPPONENT && OFFICIALS DURING A MATCH
    THEY STILL TAKE AWAY ANY WINNING RANKING POINTS & SUBSTANTIAL PRIZE MONEY

    THEY SHOULD BE PENALISED & DEDUCTED {like football or motor racing etc etc}

    From olga.wins, on Tue 16 Sep 5:03PM

  6. serena is the ultimate female tennis player!!! venus too... but ana is just one of the one slam wonders.... (i like her) try topping what the williams has achieved... 16GS btw thm... catch thm if u can...u r remembered for wot n whn u win

    From bookie, on Tue 16 Sep 4:59PM

  7. YES, ANNA IS A BAUTIFUL GIRL NOT THAT UGLY SERENA. Dave

    From davewvt, on Tue 16 Sep 4:26PM

  8. players like Anna Ivanovic who behave immacculately on court should be awarded extra ranking points
    and visa-versa of course

    From errattic.results, on Tue 16 Sep 2:54PM

  9. sweet natured stylish ~ANNNA IVANOVICH should be ranked no1
    we have tickets to watch her win at Kremlin Cup Moscow 6th OCT
    {isn't she bosnian serb ??}

    From errattic.results, on Tue 16 Sep 2:38PM

  10. bosnian? U r really into women tenis! :-))))

    From vrucepile, on Tue 16 Sep 1:18PM

  11. of course charming bosnian Anna Ivanovic should be ranked no 1
    players like her should earn extra ranking points for
    their perfect on court behaviour

    From tttobyjug, on Tue 16 Sep 12:24PM

  12. Guys, why are you disputing about that No.1 position? This is not place for beauty queen. For Serena neather. It is just for Jelena Jankovic, the girl with great mental strenght, with most permanently game and the most beautiful smile on the world! Go Jelena!!!

    From ana, on Tue 16 Sep 7:43AM

  13. ajde Ana mozes ti to imas podrsku iz CRNE GORE uz tebe smo

    From Ivan B, on Tue 16 Sep 1:21AM

  14. Ok Serena is the much better tennis player but ana is a beuty while serena is not, i would rather watch ivanovic's pretty face anyday than serena's grunting.

    From football4life, on Mon 15 Sep 11:01PM

  15. Dave - not sure if you need to see a doctor but maybe you should skip the tennis and just enjoy your preferred viewing? On the topic of 'grunting' in ladies or men's tennis - who would like to see that banned? I have watched some players who sometimes seem to turn it on and/or turn it up when they think it might upset the opponent?
    Perhaps I'd like to understand why they need to do it - seems a recent phenomenon but we see many great players who don't need to grunt.

    From M H, on Mon 15 Sep 9:07PM

  16. So long as Williams sisters (especially Serena) are on the circuit, she as well as others will always be under a wobbling platform. The Williams sisters have the killer instinct ventilated in terrible grunts which others don't have. Maria Sharapova and the like, suffer from physical fitness and aren't also not getting younger by the day.

    From Emmveeyem, on Mon 15 Sep 2:32PM

  17. heys guys! no comparison between these 2 women. ana are beauty and talaente tennis player while serena are talented and more atheletic.

    From dats_200504, on Mon 15 Sep 1:56PM

  18. I think serena looks more like a sportwoman than Ana does, wouldnt you say Ana looks more like a supermodel than a tennis player??? If you really think about it it is Ana who fits a playboy profile, not Serena. Think thoroughly about your comments b4 you post them hey. Some of us enjoy the game and dont have to go up and down with her assets. peace

    From supermats, on Mon 15 Sep 12:50PM
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