Ivanovic ushers in reign as No. 1 by winning French Open

PARIS -- This time Ana Ivanovic was ready for the French Open final.

Showing no sign of the nerves that afflicted her a year ago, Ivanovic won her first Grand Slam title Saturday by beating Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3.

By reaching the final, Ivanovic had already assured herself of being ranked No. 1 for the first time next week. And her performance was No. 1-caliber against Safina.

"I'm just so happy I kept my composure until the end," Ivanovic said during the trophy ceremony. "Last year's final was a great learning experience."

A shaky Ivanovic played in her first major at Roland Garros in 2007 and won only three games from Justine Henin. But against Safina, Ivanovic was as cool as the 65-degree weather, showing hardly a bead of perspiration even as she sprinted from corner to corner retrieving shots.

Ivanovic, 20, slugged winners from both sides, feasted on Safina's sometimes shaky serve and scurried to extend points, which led to plenty of entertaining rallies. Ivanovic won most of them, including one frantic exchange that she finished off with a delicate drop shot and ferocious fist pump.

The Serbian won match point with a solid backhand. After blowing kisses to the crowd, she used a chair to climb into the stands and share hugs with family and friends.

"I tried to call them to help me to come up, but they were hugging each other," Ivanovic said with a laugh. "I was like, 'Hey, what about me?'

Ana Ivanovic's third Grand Slam final is the charm. (AP)

Henin, a four-time French Open champion who retired last month while ranked No. 1, watched the final from the front row and presented Ivanovic with the trophy. Ivanovic said she noticed Henin before the match.

"Seeing her today in the crowd, it made me feel really, really good," Ivanovic said. "I thought, 'Maybe I can be like her -- I can win a title.'"

For the third consecutive year Sunday, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet in the men's final. The top-ranked Federer will again try for the only Grand Slam title to elude him, and Nadal will attempt to become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1981 to win a fourth consecutive French Open title.

Nadal reached the final by beating Novak Djokovic, who became Serbia's first Grand Slam champion in January when he won the Australian Open. Ivanovic said she thought of Djokovic's title as she took the court to face Safina.