Ana Ivanovic - Star of Tennis

Born in Basel, Switzerland in 1987, Ana Ivanovic is ato the quarterfinals before she lost to Sharapova.
6′1 star of tennis. When she was just 5 yearsAna also played nine additional tournaments in doubles,
old, Ana fell in love with tennis after watching Monicateaming up with Maria Kirileno and Sania Mirza. Ana
Seles on television. She pleaded with her parents toended 2006 placing at World Number14 in rankings
allow her to take tennis lessons, to which they agreedherself and at World Number 51 in doubles. Ivanovic
and bought her a tennis racquet for her birthday. Herstarted 2007 with three tournaments in Australia, being
training years were less than ideal due to NATOdefeated in all three. Shortly after the losses, Ana fired
bombings in 1999. She starting having practices in theher coach David Taylor. As the year progress, she
morning to help avoid the chaos and even startedwent into the French Open with a 6 match winning
training in an abandoned swimming pool during thestreak, ultimately being defeated. She was later forced
winter months due to a lack of facilities. Ana turnedto withdraw from the Serbian Fed Cup and the US
pro in August of 2003, debuting on the ITF Circuit. InOpen due to a knee injury she sustained at
2004, she finished in the Top 100, making the largestWimbledon. Upon her return she played and won the
ranking jump of any player that year. She alsoEast West Bank Classic in California and increased her
reached the final of the Junior Wimbledon tournamentranking to a career high World Number 4. It was in
in that same year. Her first break through performance2008 that Ana finally defeated Venus Williams for the
occurred when she took Venus Williams to two tiefirst time in her career. Ultimately, she was defeated
breaks, until eventually losing in the Zurich Open inby Sharapova but her ranking rose to World Number 2
Switzerland.during the tournament performance.
Brief Tournament HistoryIn recent months, Ana has been once again plagued
Ana won her first career singles title in 2005, playing inby an injury, this time a tear in her thigh, which isn't
Canberra Australia. She continue her wins afterthought to keep her out of the next series of
defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, andtournaments. As a player, Ana likes to play on all
Nadia Petrova who were all considered top 10 players.surfaces and her best shot is considered to be her
She reached the quarter finals of the French open inforehand. Personally, she admires Federer for his
that same year, losing to Petrova. Moving on, Ivanovicprofessionalism both in and out of the game. She is
reached the semifinals of the 2005 Zurich Open andalso superstitious in that she will not walk on the lines
Generali Ladies Linz, both tournaments she lost toof the court and she will dine at the same restaurants
Patty Schnyder. In 2006, Ivanovic played tournamentsduring her tournament stays. Ana is fluent in Serbian,
in Australia, Warsaw, and Berlin. She also progressedEnglish, and some Spanish.
to the third round of the French Open and the fourth atIvanovic's Additional Awards
2006 Wimbledon. After suffering several defeats in- Junior Wimbledon runner-up 2004
2006, Ivanovic made a breakthrough win when she- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Most Improved Player
defeated Martina Hingis, a former World Number 1, in2005
the final of the Montreal Rogers Cup. She went on to- US Open Series champion 2006
win the United States Open series ahead of Maria- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Most Improved Player
Sharapova and Kim Clijisters. She lost the US Open to2007
Serena Williams.- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Karen Krantzcke
Shortly after playing the US Open, she had toSportmanship Award 2007
recuperate from a recurring injury affecting her right- UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia
shoulder. Her return happened in Linz and she made it- Nominated for U.S.