ANA IVANOVIC

get 2 know Ana Ivanovic

Meet the new “It” girl of tennis. Her name is Ana Ivanovic and she has already overtaken Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Venus Williams in the Sony Ericsson WTA tour rankings. “(Fame) happened quite fast for me,” says the 20-year-old beauty from Belgrade, Serbia, now ranked #4 in the world. Last year the affable, pleasant and popular Ivanovic proved she can not only compete with the best, she can beat them too. Three WTA singles victories in Berlin, Los Angeles and Luxembourg were highlights of 2007 but Ana’s defining moment occurred on the red clay of Roland Garros.

“The French Open was an amazing experience because when I was younger, I used to dream of winning grand slams,’’ Ivanovic says. “But in the final with Justine (Henin) I got very emotional and I couldn’t really play my game. It is something that I have learned from. The way Justine handled it, I’m sure she was nervous too, I can learn so much from that. I’m sure next time I’m in the same place I’ll know how to deal with the pressure better. I think it was a necessary experience in order for me to win a grand slam.”

Miss Ivanovic took time out from her busy training for the Australian leg of the 2008 WTA schedule to pose and speak with MOVES in this exclusive interview/photo layout.

Tennis Inspiration(s): Monica Seles. I was watching her on TV when I was four. During the break there was a commercial for a tennis school. I remembered the number and I kept asking my mom to take me there for maybe a month. Finally she agreed. I fell in love with the game straight away and for my fifth birthday my father gave me my first racket.

First Tennis Memory: I remember my first ever lesson. I can’t describe how happy I was. It’s just a simple love for playing the game.

Hobbies/Interests: I love reading, especially history books, historical thrillers and Greek mythology. I spend a lot of time watching DVDs and going to the cinema. I like to have long dinners with my family and friends, I find that very relaxing. I’m also studying Finance at a private university that allows me to take my exams on the Internet. So I am pretty busy away from tennis.

Favorite Movies: The Departed

Favorite TV Shows: 24, Lost and Prison Break

Musical Tastes: Lots of kinds. Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Serbian

Favorite Meal: Asian food, especially sushi and black cod!

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and Cream

Pre-Match Feeling/Mindset: I like to be alone for the final moments before a match. I sometimes play some Sudoku and listen to music. This helps me relax, and then just before I go out I start to really think about my tactics for the match.

First Car: A Peugeot 207

Current Car (color): Peugeot 207 (yellow) I only passed my test last year!

Last Book Read: It was a book of Greek mythology

Greatest Moment of Career: Reaching the French Open final in June of this year

Most Painful Moment of Career: If I had to choose one or two, it would be Rome last year. I was playing really well and I got injured during a 6-1 lead and I had to retire. That was very painful physically too!

Favorite Tournaments to play/visit: There are so many! But if I have to choose one, it’s the Australian Open. I have family in Melbourne, and I love to visit there.

Closest Friends from SONY ERICSSON WTA Tour: Daniela Hantuchova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Kirilenko, Sanja Ancic

Funniest Players Encountered: Novak Djokovic. I’ve known him since we were four, and he always made me laugh a lot. It’s fitting that they call him the Joker.

Toughest Competitors Encountered: Henin and the Williams sisters. They’re the only top players I haven’t beaten so far. They’re great players, extremely tough to play against.

Of all the matches you’ve played in your life, what is the best one or two (or whatever) where you felt the best you ever felt on court? Where everything was working, the finest you’ve played?

It’s funny, I often dream about playing the perfect match. But of course that is impossible. Still, I’ve had some pretty good matches. Beating Sharapova 6-2, 6-1 in the semi-finals of the French Open was one of the best. Against Hingis in the Montreal final was also a great match for me. Then there was the match against Schnyder in Stuttgart a couple of months ago, when I won 6-0, 6-2.

Funny Tennis Memory (anything from tennis that made you laugh): My first ever match in front of a big crowd was an exhibition with Mansour Bahrami and Henri Leconte. Those guys are very funny. I was very nervous, because I was so inexperienced, but they were so funny that I was able to relax. They were all the time joking around. Novak Djokovic is also fun to play with – we played together in mixed doubles in Australia two years ago, and we also played a singles exhibition against each other a month or so before that. I was laughing a lot during all those matches.

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: I was playing a junior tournament in Canada some years ago. I was in the player lounge and they called my match. I wasn’t quite ready, so I was in a bit of a rush. I grabbed my bag and ran to the courts. When I got there I realised I had taken someone else’s racket bag! I ran back to the player lounge to return it and get mine. Luckily, whoever it was didn’t realize, but I was still very embarrassed.

Favorite Players to Watch: Roger Federer. He plays some amazing shots. He is always a joy to watch. I also love watching Novak and Janko Tipsarevic, because they are friends of mine who I grew up with.

Most stylish players – on court: I think Roger looks good on court. I always liked Agassi’s outfits too.

Most stylish players – off court: The guys don’t come to the player parties, so I can’t judge them!

If you weren’t a successful pro tennis player, what do you think you would be now?

It’s hard to say. Probably I would be doing something with languages. I love languages.

Last Vacation: After Wimbledon, in July, I went to Malta. It was great – quite isolated, just what I needed. I did very little, just reading and I went for some walks. It was very relaxing.

People Qualities Most Admired: I think it’s important to be driven, to have a goal. I like people who are caring and generous, and also those who have a good sense of humour.

And, last but not least, who was the very first famous tennis player you ever met or encountered (please share story)?

It was Venus Williams. I was playing the French Open juniors and I was with my friend Sanja Ancic, who was also playing. We were in the locker room and she saw Venus and thought it would be fun to have our photo taken with her. She was very nice to us. I still have the picture.