Last week at Stanford Ana Ivanovic played her first match since Wimbledon and her first since partnering with coach Nigel Sears and lost to Ayumi Morita 6-3 7-5. Ivanovic blamed nerves for the early loss and said she was trying to impress her new coach.

At her very next tournament Ivanovic's opening match happened to be against the same opponent and the 23-year-old didn't repeat the disappointment. She came back from 5-0 down in the second set to advance to the third round of the Mercury Insurance Open. It was the first time in Ivanovic's career that she has done so. Let's also mention that Ivanovic's comeback took place after her on-court consultations with Sears. Final score: 6-1 7-6(5).

Alberta Brianti will be Ivanovic's opponent in the third round. Brianti upset tenth-seeded Flavia Pennetta in the first round. (photo: sr_cranks)

Women's tennis players dominate the Forbes magazine Top 10 list of the highest-paid female athletes and Maria Sharapova is the leader for the seventh year in a row. Forbes included earnings from salaries, prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and exhibitions between July 2010 and July 2011.

The 24-year-old Maria Sharapova did make the final of Wimbledon, but the greatest share in her $25 million fortune earned in the one-year period came from lucrative deals with Nike, Head, Evian, Clear Shampoo, Sony Ericsson, Tiffany, Tag Heuer, and Cole Haan.

World No.1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki occupies the second position in the list with twice smaller earnings of $12.5 ($6 million from tournaments and $6.5 million from sponsors). The 21-year-old Wozniacki has deals with Adidas, Yonex, Compeed and Oriflame.

THE HIGHEST-PAID FEMALE ATHLETES

1. Maria Sharapova
2. Caroline Wozniacki
3. Danica Patrick (auto racing driver)
4. Venus Williams
5. Kim Clijsters
6. Serena Williams
7. Kim Yu-na (figure skater)
8. Li Na
9. Ana Ivanovic
10. Paula Creamer (golfer)

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Ana Ivanovic is intensively working on building a strong coaching base for her hopeful tennis resurgence. The Serb recently appointed Nigel Sears as her full-time coach and Scott Byrnes, who was Ivanovic's fitness trainer during the most successful time of her career, is back in the team.

Australian Byrnes, whose previous cooperation with Ivanovic lasted from July 2006 to July 2009, is looking forward to helping bring Ivanovic where she belongs. His statement:

We have some unfinished business on the WTA tour.

As a tribute to the good old times, check out the photo of Ivanovic's team, including Byrnes, dressed in Ivanovic's red Adidas dress in front of the Arc de Triomphe, after her 2008 Roland Garros victory. (photo: sr_cranks)

Maybe Andy Murray is that golden link between the Serbian sisters and success? Together with Andy’s brother Jamie, Jelena Jankovic won her first and only Grand Slam title, the magical 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles, and today we got the news that Ana Ivanovic will be coached by Nigel Sears, father of Andy’s girlfriend Kim.

Nigel Sears will be Ivanovic’s full-time coach. He has quit his job as Head of Women’s Tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association and will travel with Ivanovic wherever she goes. Remember how important it was for Ivanovic to find a fully-dedicated coach?

"I couldn’t be happier," said Ana. "I’ve admired Nigel for some time now, and I can’t wait to start working with him on court." (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Wimbledon is the most traditional tennis tournament and that conservativeness is reflected in the white clothing rule. But the color restriction is not limiting players to express themselves and challenge the set rules.

Bethanie Mattek Sands is always attracting a lot of attention with her look and for Wimbledon 2011 she reinvented herself in cooperation with Lady Gaga's designer – the jacket adorned with white tennis balls may have challenged the officials, but it is likely to end up in the Wimbledon Museum (one Bethanie's Wimbledon outfit is already there).

Venus Williams' outfit for Wimbledon is the second biggest shocker of the tournament. Her EleVen zipper jumper with an open back is definitely unique, whether you like it or not. I like the piece for bringing something new (it's not a dress, it's not a shorts and a top), but it reminds of pajamas. Also, I don't appreciate the visible brown bra in the back.

Nadia Petrova's message still hasn't reached her sponsor Ellesse, they simply don't want to give up the fluffy outfits.

Let's move on to some good examples. Read more »