Ivanovic proving talent can carry her to the top
Size is both a strength and weakness for the Serbian tennis sensation
Harry How / Getty ImagesCurrently the second-ranked player in tennis, Ana Ivanovic has the skills to supplant Justine Henin at the top.
OPINION
By Harry Cicma
Special to NBCSports.com
updated 10:55 a.m. ET March 27, 2008
Everyone loves a winner, which is what makes Ana Ivanovic one of the most heavily sought after tennis players (by the fans) on tour right now. After she lost in the 2007 French Open title round, there was good reason to speculate that she would never be a No. 1 world ranked singles player; her run at Roland Garros appeared to be a mere Cinderella story or a fluke result, but as time goes on it's clear that such is not the case with the young Serbian.
At age 20, Ivanovic is getting better each time she takes the court. This should send a chill down the spines of other WTA professionals, considering she is already No. 2 in the world and is trailing a player, Justine Henin, who is nearly six years older.
The more relevant result for Ana was not her run to the 2008 Australian Open title match, but rather her recent domination at the Pacific Life Open: a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 victory over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova for the title. Indian Wells was missing stars such as Justine Henin and Serena Williams, but Ivanovic still showed a lot of guts, entering as the No. 1 seed and dispatching the competition to hoist her first WTA title of the 2008 season and fourth in 11 months. After the match, Ana realized that this Tier 1 victory was a major step towards becoming the player to beat.
"It was such a strong field, and I was still the No. 1 seed. Obviously more pressure comes into play. The first few matches I was more nervous, but then I just started to focus on each match and not even think about who I was playing against. I've been practicing really well and working so hard on my fitness."
Playing in Ivanovic's favor
- Size: She stands at a tall 6'1'' and 152 pounds. If you watch her in person you will notice that she towers over most of her fellow WTA competitors. This is a similar advantage that has helped Lindsay Davenport overpower the competition en route to becoming a Grand Slam champion; such will surely work in Ana's favor.
- Work ethic: Ana is known to be one of the most dedicated players on tour. She has an inner desire to compete and be on the court, making her less conducive to burn out.
- Serbian background: She is a hero in her home country, which doesn't boast many world champion athletes. Such patriotic support will serve as extra inspiration, as she, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic continue to take the tennis world by storm.
- Youth: As she's just 20 years old, she has plenty of time to continue to develop.
Negatives surrounding Ana
- Distractions: She has already started doing some modeling and extra promotional shoots. The best advice to give any tennis player is focus on the ball, not the "fame." The glamour will come with winning, so don't worry about the modeling and limelight; it usually can only hurt your game. Maria Sharapova has proven she's able to handle both, but she is a unique competitor. Hopefully for Ana's sake it doesn't interfere with her tennis focus. Take it from a guy who works in TV.
- Deep competition on the WTA tour: The women's circuit has never been deeper. The days of straight set 6-0, 6-0 first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments are quickly ending. There are a number of young players ready to make a move and potentially dethrone Justine Henin. They include Anna Chakvetadze, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Tatiana Golovin, just to name a few (the older veterans will also pose a threat to Ana's progress).
- Size: Her size, which is also a major benefit to her game, can also make it more difficult to move around and could make Ana more prone to injuries. She has a smooth game, but her strokes aren't totally fluid, which leads to more physical impact. Taller/more muscular players usually suffer from knee injuries, and the constant bending leads to wear and tear throughout the years. Hopefully it won't plague Ivanovic, but it could be a factor.
Final Thought
Ana Ivanovic is the most improved women's player on tour. She appeared to be nervous during the 2007 French Open final (which is understandable), but that wasn't the case in the 2008 Aussie Open title round and not at all when she captured the Pacific Life trophy on an international stage. The girl is No. 2 in the world, and she's on the rise. If she can maintain an "even keel" and surround herself with a good entourage, she will one day win a number of major titles, on all surfaces, and will build a legendary tennis resume.
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