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 »
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 »
World No.3 Jelena Jankovic, extremely disappointed after losing the 2008 French Open semifinal (and who wouldn’t be), didn’t hide her emotions when talking to the press.
Asked what she would do to get over the defeat, she responded: "Kill myself?"
"No, I will have some dinner and maybe get drunk or do something. I don't know. Whatever makes me feel better."
Jankovic rallied from a set and 3-1 down to lead 3-1 in the deciding set against fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic, but eventually lost the match to the more powerful opponent. Read more »
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)
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