Ana witdraws from Marbella

Ana has withdrawn from the Andalucia Tennis Experience, an International series tournament that will take place in Marbella, Spain, during 4-10 April.

She explained: "It is with a heavy heart that I am making this withdrawal. I've had so many small things go wrong with my body this past month, and it's only thanks to the brilliance of my doctor that I've been able to compete in Indian Wells and Miami.

"I've been doing therapy every day and it's taken its toll. I don't feel I can continue struggling this way, onto another tournament. I need a break, and unfortunately that means that I have decided to withdraw from Marbella.

"I am very sorry to anyone who was hoping to see me play there this year, and I wish the organizers a very successful tournament."

Ana's next scheduled event is the Fed Cup World Group Play-Off against Slovakia in Bratislava on April 16-17.

Ana from her Facebook

Yesterday's match was so thrilling. On the one hand I am gutted I didn't take my chances, but on the other, I'm happy to see that I can compete and come really close to beating the player I consider to be the best in the world right now. Sure, it will take a few days to get over, but there are many positives from this performance. It was a fun tournament for sure.

Ana in Fourth Round

Ana lost to clijsters 6-7 6-3 6-7

Ana failed to convert a 5-1 final set lead, and spurned five match points, as she lost to world No.2 and defending champion Kim Clijsters 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Ana was magnificent for large portions of the match against the Belgian three-time Grand Slam champion, but she came up marginally short in a rain-delayed match on Court 2.

Adding to Ana's torment is the fact that she won more points and games than Clijsters during the two hour, 18-minute match.

Coming into the match, few observers gave Ana much of a chance, considering that in her two previously completed matches against Clijsters, she had won just three games. However, by taking the first set to a tiebreak she already bettered her past efforts against the brilliant Belgian, even though Clijsters clinched it 7-4.

Ana faced a breakpoint in the opening game of the second set but managed to hold. She immediately put the pressure on Clijsters' serve and wangled a handful of break opportunities. After she exploited her fifth break point, she stormed through the set, establishing a 5-1 lead with some fearless hitting.

Clijsters pulled back one service break but could not deny Ana from levelling the match, as the momentum swung firmly in the 17th seed's favour.

The 23-year-old played some fantastic tennis, mixing forehand missiles with some intelligent backhand slices that kept Clijsters on her toes. The 27-year-old began missing wildly, and Ana capitalised.

She got off to a perfect start in the third set, breaking the Clijsters serve and building a 3-1 lead, although she had to recover twice from 15-40 to hold serve in the early stages of the set.

At 5-1, Ana squandered four opportunities to seal the match, as Clijsters produced a marvellous turnaround and got rid of another match point two games later.

Again, a tiebreak ensued, with Clijsters using all her experience to prevail 7-5 and move into the quarter-finals.

Ana missed a wonderful opportunity to score one of the biggest victories of her career, but she proved that she is once more capable of mixing it with the world's very best.

Quotes to follow

Ana and Andrea Petkovic, who defeated seventh seed Jelena Jankovic in three sets to reach the semi-finals, have withdrawn from the doubles competition. They were due to meet Shuai Peng and Shahar Peer in the quarter-finals later on Tuesday.

Ana From her Facebook

What a fun and eventful day Sunday turned out to be! After a set of my match against Razzano it wasn't much fun, but I turned it around. Obviously I hope her injury isn't serious...then to get another really close win in doubles was a great way to end the day.

Ana and Petkovic in Second Round

Ana Ivanovic message for the Japan

"Message of hope from around the world"

Link to watch the video http://www.gaora.co.jp/message/

Ana in Third Round

Ana def Razzano 2-6 6-2 3-0

Ana Ivanovic benefited from her battling qualities as she stubbornly stayed in Sunday's Sony Ericsson Open encounter with Virginie Razzano, eventually triumphing after the French player retired through injury.

Ivanovic battled back from a set down to restore parity in the contest, forcing matters into a decider. It was then that Razzano felt unable to continue, retiring with the score reading 2-6 6-2 3-0 in Ivanovic's favour.

Razzano threw everything at the former world No. 1 in an intriguing first set, breaking on three occasions. It was the second serve that caused Ivanovic problems, winning only one of nine points as Razzano took control.

However, a combination of Razzano losing accuracy on her own serve and Ivanovic growing into the contest meant the Serb was able to take the second set. She had to save five break points en route, but two unanswered breaks forced Razzano into a decider that she clearly did not need.

Now nursing the match-ending problem, Razzano was broken in games one and three of the third set before finally calling time as Ivanovic advanced to round four.