Dubai water park visit

Prior to last week's Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Ana visited the wonderful Wild Wadi Water Park.

Ana falls to Nº 21

Ana has slipped two places to 21st in the latest WTA Tour rankings, which are published today.

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, who won the Dubai Tennis Championships, has re-claimed the No.1 position from Belgian Kim Clijsters.

Current WTA Tour Singles Rankings Top 25:

1 Caroline Wozniacki (Den) 9,430pts
2 Kim Clijsters (Bel) 8,835pts
3 Vera Zvonareva (Rus) 7,155pts
4 Samantha Stosur (Aus) 5,086pts
5 Francesca Schiavone (Ita) 5,051pts
6 Jelena Jankovic (Srb) 4,655pts
7 Na Li (Chn) 4,300pts
8 Venus Williams (USA) 3,745pts
9 Vika Azarenka (Blr) 3,440pts
10 Agnieszka Radwanska (Pol) 3,170pts
11 Serena Williams (USA) 3,035pts
12 Shahar Peer (Isr) 2,995pts
13 Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 2,860pts
14 Petra Kvitova (Cze) 2,758pts
15 Flavia Pennetta (Ita) 2,730pts
16 Kaia Kanepi (Est) 2,685pts
17 Maria Sharapova (Rus) 2,656pts
18 Marion Bartoli (Fra) 2,595pts
19 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) 2,490pts
20 Alisa Kleybanova (Rus) 2,485pts
21 Ana Ivanovic (Srb) 2,445pts
22 Nadia Petrova (Rus) 2,421pts
23 Aravane Rezai (Fra) 2,340pts
24 Andrea Petkovic (Ger) 2,290pts
25 Yanina Wickmayer (Bel) 2,235pts

Ana is a new dress

From Miami ana will wear a new dress made by adidas is the same asthat used in this monent but is red aproxmimadamente going to use itfrom Miami to Roland Garros

What do you think?

Pattaya 2011 Off Count

Ana from her Facebook

I've been doing a lot of physiotherapy over the past few days. I'm sure I'll be fine for Indian Wells. Aside from that I've been learning how to cook! My best dish at the moment is probably oven-roasted fish with herbs, served with steamed rice and spinach. But I need to increase my portfolio. :) Anyone have some good recipes? :p

Ana withdraws from Doha

Ana has been forced to withdraw from next week's Qatar Ladies Open 2011 in Doha with a recurrence of the abdominal muscle injury she sustained in Australia last month.

"It's very frustrating, because I am so motivated to train and to get more matches under my belt," said Ana.

"But with this injury I am restricted, especially on the serve, so I just have to rest and then kind of restart my season. I'm sorry to be missing Doha but I'm sure I will be back there in the future."

Gulf News interview

Ana this week spoke to the Gulf News in the United Arab Emirates about her role as a UNICEF ambassador for Serbia:

Former World No 1 Ana Ivanovic is hoping she can dedicate some extra time to her role as Unicef National Ambassador for Serbia.

"It is such an important thing in my life to be able to give something back to society," Ivanovic said of her assignment that she has been with since September 2007.

"I am so fortunate that tennis has opened so many doors and opportunities for me and this is just one way that I can give back to society in some way."

On the look out to start something of her own, Ivanovic was approached by Unicef and offered the opportunity to be part of their child protection initiative in primary schools in her native Serbia.

Others eminent personalities who joined Ivanovic as ambassadors were fellow tennis player Jelena Jankovic, former national basketball star and coach Aleksander Dordevic and filmmaker Emir Kusturica, a two-time winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

"I must admit I have not been able to give too much time to the project due to my involvement in my career. But every time I see an opportunity where I can contribute and spend some time with the kids I try to do so," Ivanovic said.

The Serb, who is mainly involved with Unicef's ‘School without Violence' meets up with children at primary school level who are "always in danger of being exploited through some form of violence".

"Mostly it is due to being bullied, either physically or mentally and this can have so much of an impact on young minds. Violence in schools is such a huge problem and in Serbia itself, more than 62 per cent of the kids have to endure it in some form and we are trying to stop this," Ivanovic said.

"This is so reviving and rewarding for me and I sincerely hope that in the future I get more such opportunities to reach out and move to children in high schools as well," she said.

Photos of Ivanovic vs Schnyder

Video Highlights

Ivanovic lost to Schnyder 4-6 7-6 6-2

Ana suffered a disappointing 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 defeat to Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

14th seed Ana never found her form, but she battled gamely and clinched the first set almost due to determination alone. That said, she was dominant at the net, winning seven of eights points in which she ventured forward.

She was ahead 3-1 in the second set but mistimed groundstrokes and double faults cost her, as Schnyder fought back to lead 4-3.

Ana saved two set points while trailing 5-6, 15-40 with arguably her best consecutive two points of the match: a backhand winner hit while virtually kneeling over, then an inside-out forehand winner. She held to force a tiebreak.

Schnyder was the more consistent player during a tiebreak that was punctuated by a dispute between Ana and the umpire, after he denied her request to invoke the Hawk-Eye challenge system on the basis that she had asked too late.

Ana was incensed, and Schnyder took full advantage, wrapping up the tiebreak and levelling the match.

The Swiss used that momentum well in the beginning of the deciding set as she broke Ana in the first game. She maintained her lead and capitalised on more errant serving from Ana later in the set, adding a second break in the seventh game before serving out the match to love.

"It is very disappointing," said Ana. "I think I had lots of chances in the second set, and then the level just really dropped and I struggled a little bit out there.

"My game was kind of missing a few bits and pieces."

Ana's next tournament is the Qatar Ladies Open, which begins in Doha on Sunday.

BNP Paribas Preview

Ana recently gave an interview to the website of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. She won the tournament in 2008 and was a finalist in 2009.

The BNP Paribas Open is the largest combined two week event outside of the four Majors and Indian Wells Tennis Garden (IWTG) is the second largest tennis stadium in the world. What do you think sets it apart from the others? What do you like most about the BNP Paribas Open?
I love spending time in Indian Wells: it’s so peaceful and relaxing. I think that sometimes the setting of a tournament, when it’s somewhere you especially enjoy visiting, can help you play better – that’s definitely the case for me, as I’ve had some of my best results in the desert.

I like everything about the tournament: the organization, the relaxed mood among tournament staff, the weather, the beautiful scenery, the enthusiastic but well-behaved fans... Also, the venue seems very new and clean. Then there are some cool little things like a special locker room for former champions. Players are made to feel very welcome at this tournament.

You won the 2008 BNP Paribas Open, what are your memories of capturing that title?
It’s obviously a great memory for me, one of the best of my career. That was the best year of my career. I reached the Australian Open final and was in very good form, but then I got injured in Doha and struggled a bit. Coming to Indian Wells I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a great week of practice and played some of my best tennis all the way through the tournament.

You have a friendship with fellow Serb Novak Djokovic...you played the Hopman Cup with him, and were in his box at the Australian Open supporting him. Can you tell our readers something funny or wonderful about him that they don’t already know?
He likes to sleep in!

We know you love to read. What have you been reading lately, and do you have any good book recommendations for fans?
At the moment I am reading The Thorn Birds. I have so many recommendations! Here are a few: anything by Paulo Coelho; The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I am about to start reading The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton. I heard it’s very good.

You note on your website that you always have a song in your head during matches. What has been playing lately?
Recently nothing actually! But in the past it’s been songs by Beyonce and Rihanna especially.

Can you tell us what your top three meals are, or what foods you love to eat?
Asian food is my favourite. Three dishes I like especially are sushi, black cod and shrimp tempura.

Ivanovic vs Schnyder 1º round Dubai

Ana has been drawn to face Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, which begin in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

It will be the tenth meeting between the pair; Ana leads the head-to-head series 5-4 and has won the last five encounters.

China's Jie Zheng or a qualifier awaits in round two of the 56-woman event, while fourth seed Samantha Stosur is a possible third round opponent.
Sixth seed and countrywoman Jelena Jankovic is a possible opponent in the quarter-finals, while top seed Caroline Wozniacki and No.5 Li Na are potential adversaries in the last four.

The leading seeds in the bottom half of the draw, whom Ana cannot play until the final, are No.2 Vera Zvonareva, No.3 Francesca Schiavone, No.7 Victoria Azarenka and No.8 Agnieszka Radwanska

http://www.wtatour.com/SEWTATour-Archive/posting/2011/718/MDS.pdf

Ana from her Facebook

Tonight's match was a bit of a struggle. I felt like I was close to playing some good tennis but I could never quite get going. On the positive side, I got three matches under my belt here in Pattaya, I had such a nice time off the court, and it's progress after the disappointment of Melbourne.

Vinci def Ivanovic 7-5 6-3

Ana lost 7-5, 6-3 to fifth seed Roberta Vinci in the quarter-finals of the PTT Pattaya Open.

The 23-year-old was broken in the opening game, as she served two double faults. However, she was soon on level terms and the match was keenly contested throughout the first set.

Ana was hitting the ball cleanly but appeared to lack the conviction to go for the lines. Vinci capitalised, using her slice-backhand down-the-line masterfully.

The Italian served for the set at 5-4 but Ana broke back, only to produce one of her worst service games of the tournament in the following game. Vinci served out the set.

Ana fell a break behind early in the second set. She had several opportunities to break back when trailing 4-3, but the ultra-consistent Vinci was in no mood to let her back in it, and Ana suffered her first loss to the Italian in five matches.

"She played really well," said Ana. "I felt like I was very much in the match, and I wasn't far away from playing some good tennis, but I couldn't quite find my rhythm.

"I'm not too disappointed overall. I'm never happy to lose in the quarter-finals of a tournament, but after the disappointments of Melbourne I'm pleased I could get three matches under my belt, and I hope to build on this in Dubai and Doha.

Ana, who was making her first appearance in Thailand, added: "I'd love to come back.

"I've had a really nice time off the court. Everyone was so friendly and smiling, and there are many places here that I would like to visit.

Ana meets orphans in Pattaya

During the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand, Ana this week served lunch to a group of children from a local orphanage.

Alongside several other players the 23-year-old met the children on the beachfront of the tournament site. She played the role of waitress, posed for photos and handed out soft toys to the youngsters, who later watched matches on the tournament's opening day.

"Obviously it was difficult to interact properly because of the language barrier, but we could still communicate with each other a little bit and they were so warm and friendly," said Ana.

"It was a very humbling experience, and I'm really happy that the tournament invited them to this lunch, and to spend time at the tournament."

Photo: Korbphuk Phromrekha

Ana from her Facebook

That was a first! After just a few games of my match against Craybas today the lights went out. Apparently the whole resort was affected. It was an unusual experience but I hadn't started very well so it gave me the opportunity to kind of start again. Saving those break points in the first game of the second set was probably the key to this victory.

Photos of Ivanovic vs Craybas

Ana Ivanovic def Jill Craybas 4-6 6-1 7-5

Ana edged past American Jill Craybas 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the second round of the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand.

Ana started indifferently. She was hitting the ball cleaning from the baseline, but served four double faults and was broken following a marathon game. Craybas, on the other hand, was a model of consistency. She held to lead 2-0 and had a break point for 3-0 that Ana saved.

With the American leading 2-1 a most unusual interruption occurred when the floodlights failed. There was a power cut that hit the entire resort at which the tournament is being held, and an intermission of some 25 minutes ensued.

Eventually power was restored and the players returned for a 5-minute warm-up. Ana looked markedly more assured and she broke back to level at 3-3. She had a break point to lead 5-3 but spurned it, and the momentum again shifted, this time in favour of Craybas.

The 36-year-old veteran exploited Ana's misfiring groundstrokes and clinched the first set 6-4.

As Ana slipped to 15-40 in the opening game of the second set, things were looking bleak for the No.2 seed and the vast majority of the near-capacity crowd, who offered Ana their vociferous support.

However, the 23-year-old saved both break points, the second with a forehand sledgehammer. She began to play very aggressively and Craybas had no answer to her piercing groundstrokes. Ana raced into a 5-0 lead.

The second set outcome was inevitable. Craybas regrouped at the beginning of the final set and the match became very competitive once more.

Ana moved a break ahead at 3-2, at which point she required courtside treatment for a shoulder complaint. When she returned to the court she was broken, but she continued to fight and her forehand caused more problems for Craybas.

The match was very much up for grabs at 5-5 when a close line call went in favour of Ana. Craybas was incensed, but she kept her cool and competed gamely. But she could not resist Ana's attacking play and the former world No.1 sealed what proved to be a match-winning break in the 11th game.

Ana served the match out with the minimum of fuss, in stark contrast to the two hours and 25 minutes that had gone before.

"Saving those break points at the start of the second set was crucial," said Ana.

"It was a really strange match, full of ups and downs, and the lights going out!"

Furthermore, several 'lets' had to be played, as balls from the neighbouring court occassionally interrupting rallies.

Ana added: "The conditions this evening were very different to yesterday afternoon, so I am happy that I was able to adapt and to come through this test. Jill played a very good match and she didn't really deserve to lose. I'm just happy to be through."

Ana will take on fifth seed Roberta Vinci of Italy in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Ana Ivanovic Split with Coach Antonio van Grichen

Ana Ivanovic Split with Coach Antonio van Grichen

After her first round win today at the Pattaya Open, Ana Ivanovic announced that she ended her working relationship with coach Antonio van Grichen.

Van Grichen, who also coached Victoria Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva, and Ivanovic began to work together during the off-season but it didn’t work.

During the past couple of years Ivanovic changed many coaches including Sven Groenefeld, Craig Kardon and Heinz Gunhardt.

Ana from her Facebook

Quite a strange experience for me today in Pattaya. It's not often you play at a venue with two courts side by side (nothing separating them) and with a big stand on the baseline and the sea on the sideline! It's a very unusual setting, but I must say I really enjoyed it.

Photos of Ivanovic Luangnan