Wimbledon - Ivanovic to use past Venus lessons

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Jun 14:17:00 2009

Ana Ivanovic will draw on lessons from her last Wimbledon clash with Venus Williams when she plays the five-time champion on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts during her match against Sam Stosur of Australia at Wimbledon REUTERS - 0

The 21-year-old Serbian, who marched past Australia's Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-2 on Saturday to secure a meeting with Williams, said she had learnt a lot from playing the world number three in the semi-finals two years ago.

"I'm very excited. I can take a lot from that match," she said referring to her 6-2 6-4 defeat by Williams in 2007.

"She (Venus) likes to go for her first shot. She likes to dominate the points. I just think I have to try to make a lot of returns."

"Obviously, it's going to be important for me to serve well in that match because she has great first serves," added the 13th seed. "So if I can hold on to my serve and then put pressure on her, that would be a key."

But Ivanovic, who has slipped from the world number one spot she held last year, is not the only one who will be drawing on her memories of the 2007 match in preparation for Monday.

Williams, who recorded her 17th successive win at the grasscourt major on Saturday with a 6-0 6-4 triumph over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, also remembers her fourth round opponent's strengths.

"We had a lot of great exchanges," the American said of that semi-final two years ago. "I just remember playing aggressively."

"She is talented," added Williams. "This is a good surface for her... she does everything well."

Venus and sister Serena, who faces unseeded Daniela Hantuchova on Monday, are firmly on course for a repeat of their 2009 clash in the final and are characteristically stepping up a gear with each round.

But Serena, who won the last of her two Wimbledon crowns six years ago, is not expecting her bid to reach the quarter-finals to be an easy ride.

"She is such a smooth player and she takes her time on the court," said Serena. "I have to make sure I don't rush myself because she is playing well... so I'm going to have to really bring a tough game."

Reuters

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. ana DID NOT LOSE today. instead she GAINED something­ that will add up to he newly found maturity. watch out.­ serbia will conquer the US.

    From badongskie, on Mon 29 Jun 2:21PM

  2. bye bye ana see u next year

    From ralph, on Mon 29 Jun 1:52PM

  3. Haven't read the article...but the match is looking­ grave (1-6 to Venus in the 1st set! Booooooo!).

    From Goatlips, on Mon 29 Jun 1:43PM

  4. Attaha(48)....The Williams Sisters have been on the­ tour longer than Daniela Hantuchova. Her pro debut was­ back in 1999 while the Venus and Serena were 1994 and­ 95 repectively.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Mon 29 Jun 1:11PM

  5. #11, 13, think you are talking about history of the­ game. Quite Right.. To start with Daniella, if she is­ still good, tell me how many GS she has won since on­ wta tours? She obviously has been on the tour longer­ than any of the wiliamses but has not got a single GS­ to her name even when ranked 5th in the world. She is­ one of the most respected lady in the tour, quiet and­ continously improving in her career. She's to be­ emulated by other girls as she knew there are other­ aspects of life than to tennis. It is therefore not­ fair bringing old wounds back on this tour. Let the­ best player of the day win and of course., the best­ player is there recordwise.Serena has teh ability to­ change games and at this level she is up to it. I­ thought her greatest threats are Venus and Kuznetsova­ but the later is gone.

    From Augustine A, on Mon 29 Jun 12:57PM

  6. I like surprises.....Ana to beat Venus....Nadia to beat­ Vika.......more?

    From siskra83, on Mon 29 Jun 12:55PM

  7. Abdurrazeg A(33,34 and 35)....i do appreciate your­ steadfast support for The Williams Sisters and i'm­ also flattered that you used MY constructed­ line[sentence] to express your views about them.­ However, you might wanna refrain from copying and­ pasting my lines.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Mon 29 Jun 12:29PM

  8. LOL badongskie Jelena has been terrific compared to Ana­ since last years FO, obviously she has struggled this­ year, but Ana hasn't found form since...Ana is way­ better? Are you insane? Clearly you haven't seen­ Ana's H2H with Venus compared to Jelena LOL after­ all, we are talking about the Serbs versus the Williams­ here...x

    From opera.aria, on Mon 29 Jun 12:25PM

  9. Goddess on the mountain top
    Burning like a silver­ flame
    The summit of beauty and love
    And Venus was her­ name!

    Her weapons were her crystal eyes
    Making every­ man a man
    Black as the dark night she was
    Got what­ no-one else had

    Yeah baby she's got it
    Yeah baby­ she's got it
    Yeah baby she's got it
    Yeah baby­ she's got it

    From y.soserius, on Mon 29 Jun 12:09PM

  10. I`m sure Ana can beat Venus ! Go Ana ! Just play your­ game girl !

    From Igor K, on Mon 29 Jun 11:52AM

  11. AJ I agree with Santos - Oudin really reminds me on­ Justin, only one handed backhand missing, I think..­
    really good moving, determination..

    she totally­ outplayed JJ tactically in third set (you can rarely­ seen this; power play is different story), really good­ work for only 17..
    I hope this girl will continue in­ that fashion !

    From Igor K, on Mon 29 Jun 11:44AM

  12. OK Donney we'll blame it on the girls for being so­ hot then. but i don't buy your denial about the­ fox, that old picture told a different story mate.

    From sanchez.santos, on Mon 29 Jun 10:55AM

  13. Ajmo srbi, svi u napad, Ana i Novak da osvetlaju obraz.­ POBEDA i samo POBEDA....

    From momir, on Mon 29 Jun 9:58AM

  14. A NAVAR SHEGGED ONY WE FAX. A WANTAD TAY BAT A­ COULDINAY GET THA HOWL AV WAN.

    From Donney, on Mon 29 Jun 5:10AM

  15. WEL AF THON WEE LASSAYS WERENAY SA SAXAY A WADINAY BE­ SA HARNAY.

    From Donney, on Mon 29 Jun 5:06AM

  16. Regardless of what the critics say, irrespective of­ the­ continuing hating, name callings and most­ obviously­ prejudice, The Williams Sisters are the best­ on grass­ and any other fast court. They are The­ players to beat­ and will remain so until someone­ CONSISTANTLY prove­ otherwise. That's the bottom­ line!

    From abdurrazeg a, on Mon 29 Jun 3:33AM

  17. Regardless of what the critics say, irrespective of­ the­ continuing hating, name callings and most­ obviously­ prejudice, The Williams Sisters are the best­ on grass­ and any other fast court. They are The­ players to beat­ and will remain so until someone­ CONSISTANTLY prove­ otherwise. That's the bottom­ line!

    From abdurrazeg a, on Mon 29 Jun 3:32AM

  18. Regardless of what the critics say, irrespective of­ the­ continuing hating, name callings and most­ obviously­ prejudice, The Williams Sisters are the best­ on grass­ and any other fast court. They are The­ players to beat­ and will remain so until someone­ CONSISTANTLY prove­ otherwise. That's the bottom­ line!

    From abdurrazeg a, on Mon 29 Jun 3:32AM

  19. VICTORY too too for sweetie Daniella Hantuchkova on­ Monday to make so many fans happy

    From ace.firstserve, on Mon 29 Jun 2:57AM

  20. do give us a happy start to the week Ana with VICTORY­ in your Monday Match

    From ace.firstserve, on Mon 29 Jun 2:34AM
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