Ivanovic to play Williams, again, in another Grand Slam
MELBOURNE, Australia -- She studies finance via university correspondence courses, reads Greek mythology and is just eccentric enough to sidestep lines on the tennis court and eat every night at the same restaurant in some cities.
Ana Ivanovic is also becoming the next big thing in the women's game, both on and off the court.
The 20-year-old Ivanovic made it to the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday after a 6-1, 7-6 (2) win over Caroline Wozniacki, the third time in her last four Grand Slams that she's made it to the last 8.
She lost the French Open final last year to Justine Henin -- the first Serbian player to contest a Grand Slam championship match -- then lost in straight sets to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Ivanovic, now ranked third, also lost in the fourth round of the U.S. Open to Williams, which gives her a perfect opportunity at Melbourne Park to make amends against, yet again, Williams.
"Exactly the time for some revenge," Ivanovic says. "She's definitely a tough opponent ... but I think I'm a little bit different player than I was last time I played her."
Ivanovic has been working out with Melbourne-based Australian conditioning coach Scott Byrnes.
"I got even fitter and stronger on the court," said Ivanovic. "And also these courts are a little bit slower than the U.S. Open, so I think that's something that definitely suits me better because she's a big server and she likes to go for the big shots."
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| Ana Ivanovic gets another shot at Venus Williams. (Getty Images) |
"Long running, sprints, in a gym we do some weights in offseason ... so it's definitely also very interesting, because fitness can get really boring," she says. "He (Byrnes) always has some new games or new exercise to keep it interesting."
Off court, Ivanovic has a blog on the WTA Tour's website, her own newspaper column and a Switzerland-based manager who takes care of her marketing and endorsements.
Asked about the off court extras that being a top women's tennis player can bring, Ivanovic said it is something she lets other people worry about.
"That's definitely a different side of tennis," Ivanovic says. "I have a great manager and I will trust him in that part, so I don't think too much about that."
Last year, she signed a three-year contract with a major auto company that distributes cars in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, one of the largest sponsorship deals for any athlete in eastern Europe. She also features in a WTA television commercial and in September of last year was named a UNICEF national ambassador for Serbia.
Ivanovic keeps busy on the road, send in her finance course exams by post, shopping for new clothes or eating sushi in her favorite restaurants -- often night after night if she's on a tournament hot streak.
That superstitious streak extends to the white lines on the court, ones she'll avoid Wednesday when walking on to Rod Laver Arena or another show court to take on Williams.
"They can bite," Ivanovic says, smiling. "I try to avoid them."
