Ana Ivanovic, Player to Watch in 2011

 (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images North America)

One of the players to watch next year is the continuation of resurgence of Ana Ivanovic. Ana has been touted as one of the women tennis players who can win multiple slams. Possessed with stunning beauty, she was pictured in numerous magazines. She also has a killer forehand that can rip winners from every side of the court.

Unfortunately, after she won her first grand slam in 2008 Roland Garros, and being seeded number one for the 1st time in her career in Wimbledon (same year), she was demolished by Jie Zheng in the third round. Since then, the collapse in her ranking and form began. She did not win any back-to-back matches in her next five events (Montréal, US Open, Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Beijing and Moscow. She also withdrew in the Olympics because of right thumb injury. But fortunately she rebounded in Zurich by losing to Venus Williams in the semi-finals and won a title in Linz by beating Vera Zvonareva in the Final.


In 2009, she gone out of the top 20 for the first time in five years. But at the latter part of 2010, everything has changed. A different Ana Ivanovic came out at the US Open. A confident and a happy Ana stepped out on the courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium to face a very familiar opponent. It was Jie Zheng, the same player who beat her in Wimbledon 2008. The history didn't matter. Armed with improved serve and positive demeanor, she dominated Jie Zheng and finished the match with 6-3, 6-0 victory. Ana later confessed that she is enjoying her tennis now compared before. Although she lost her match against Kim Clijsters in the fourth round she was happy to match her best showing at the US Open. She also reached fourth round in 2007.




She ended 2010, with two titles, Generali Ladies Linz and Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali and being back at the top 20, ranked 17.

Below is the highlights of the Ana Ivanovic and Sorana Cirstea in Linz first round match. The next video is the finals match between her and Patty Schnyder where she routed the Swiss 6-1, 6-2.


Ana Ivanovic vs Sorana Cirstea from dhmanagement on Vimeo.



Indeed, a new Ana Ivanovic has emerged out from her shadows and I am looking forward seeing her winning more titles in 2011!


Photo Credits:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/BfSOL7ZkvtW/U+S+Open+Day+7/IDg8ebhLWes/Ana+Ivanovic