World No.1 Ana Ivanovic has withdrawn from next week's International Women's Open at Eastbourne.

The official reason for Ivanovic’s withdrawal is a problem with her abductor. However, the Serb also claims to be mentally exhausted after winning her first Grand Slam title on Saturday, and doesn’t feel ready to compete yet.

"I'm very sorry to to anyone who was hoping to see me play in Eastbourne," said the 20-year-old Ivanovic. "I've heard great things about the tournament and I was looking forward to going there, spending some time near the sea, and preparing for Wimbledon." (source: Ana Ivanovic's official website)

Fresh world No.1 and new French Open champion Ana Ivanovic was eagerly welcomed to her hometown by thousands of excited fans on Tuesday. The tennis star showed up on the Belgrade City Hall balcony to share the victory with the people who were cheering for her on her way to the Grand Slam title. Read more »

Newly-crowned French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, who has now officially become world number one, revealed why she lost so early at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the Tier I event which took place in Rome last month.

As Ivanovic was getting ready to go on court for her second round match against Tsvetana Pironkova, she suddenly heard that Justine Henin had quit the sport. As you know, the news was totally unexpected, and since Henin would have been the overwhelming favorite to win the Roland Garros title for the fifth time in six years, the news gave Ivanovic a glimmer of hope. That hope, however, distracted Ivanovic so much that she lost the match against Pironkova.

"I started thinking, hey maybe I can become number one but it was too much for me," said the 20-year-old Ivanovic. (photo via Yahoo)

Before the 2008 French Open, Ana Ivanovic’s coaching team, Scott Byrnes (strength and conditioning coach), Sven Groeneveld (tennis advisor) and Marcin Rozpedski (hitting partner), promised that they would do something outrageous if she took the title. Ana’s brother Milos wanted to join the trio and the four gave their word that if Ana won the French Open, they would run around the Arc de Triomphe while each wearing one of Ana's adidas dresses.

The 20-year-old Ivanovic won Roland Garros and the quartet didn't disappoint — after a celebratory dinner they made a mockery of themselves in the early hours of Sunday morning and this picture is the proof. Hahaha.

I often think to myself how Ana is blessed for having such a wonderful team. (source: Ana Ivanovic's official website)

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic defeated Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4 6-3 in Saturday’s final at the 2008 French Open to claim her first Grand Slam title.

The world No.2 Ivanovic was successful at her third attempt in a Grand Slam final. Last year at the French Open nerves got the best of her and she was demolished by clay-court specialist Justine Henin. Ivanovic also played the 2008 Australian Open final, but Maria Sharapova was too good for her then. Today, however, everything was just right for Ivanovic as her nerves, her game and her bullet-like forehand worked well. Comeback artist Dinara Safina, ranked 14th in the world, wasn't able to fight back this time.

Second seed Ivanovic broke Safina in the first game of the match, and then again in the fifth, without losing a single point. Read more »

Many people were disappointed by adidas for not changing the look of Ana Ivanovic for the French Open. The soon-to-be world No.1 has been wearing the exact same outfit, the Neo Red Edge Dress, since the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships which took place in late February. However, for Wimbledon 2008 adidas has prepared something new for the tennis star — a scoop-neck tank dress with a knit fabrication on top and woven pleats.

The dress costs $65 and is available in white/mauve tint.

BTW: I'm also all for fresh looks, but Sharapova had such a cool new dress for the French Open, and she was dumped out early. Better old dress, than bad results. Ivanovic is starting her second successive French Open final in just a few minutes. (via Tennis Served Fresh)

Last year’s runner-up Ana Ivanovic won a tough battle of the Serbs to advance to her third career Grand Slam final where she'll meet 13th-seeded Russian Dinara Safina who advanced with a victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova. The 20-year-old Ivanovic defeated compatriot Jelena Jankovic 6-4 3-6 6-4 in today's semifinal.

Jankovic started the match strong, taking a 3-0 lead. However, Ivanovic managed to level at 4-4. The 20-year-old Ivanovic earned a crucial break in the ninth game and served out the set. Ivanovic then established a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Jankovic won the next five games to level the match. Jankovic twice led by a break in the decider but Ivanovic stormed back, broke Jankovic in the ninth game and finished the match on her first match point in the next game.

With this victory Ivanovic improved her head-to-head record against Jankovic to 6-1. Oh, it must hurt Jankovic – she missed the opportunity to become the world No.1 and also the first Serb to achieve such a feat, to reach her first Grand Slam final, and to improve her record against her younger colleague.

Ivanovic will rise from No.2 to No.1 in the world, for the first time in her career, when the rankings are updated on Monday. She will overtake Maria Sharapova. (photo via Tennis Channel)

Serbian stars Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic both advanced to the 2008 French Open semifinals and will meet each other in the battle for the championship match.

The last year’s finalist Ivanovic displayed perfect from in her quarterfinal and outclassed Patty Schnyder in straight sets 6-3 6-2. Ivanovic’s game has been in perfect working order throughout the tournament, and she seems more than ready to reach her first Grand Slam title. Read more »