Name: Ana Ivanovic
DOB: November 6, 187
Country: Serbia
Residence: Basel, Switzerland
Height: 6' 0
Turn pro: 2003
Plays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Racquet: Yonex RQ iS 1 Tour XL 95
Early Life
Ana Ivanovic began to play tennis at the early age of five, after being awed by tennis player Monica Seles on a television match. Thereafter, Ana constantly bothered her parents to get her a racket and to put her in tennis lessons. After her parents agreed to her wishes, Ana’s passion for tennis grew exponentially. She even remembers practicing in an empty swimming pool. Ana’s life was not the typical life of a child; she was exposed to war and violence at a very young age. There were times when she was forced to practice in the morning as to steer clear of the frequent violence and bombings. Ana has grown into an excellent tennis player despite these hardships – she is already one of the best young amateurs in the European tennis scene.
Professional Career
Ana’s first major event was the 2004 Junior Wimbledon tournament, where she reached the final match at 17 years of age. In the same year, Ana almost managed to defeat Serena Williams, who is known to be one of the best players in women’s tennis. Ana continued her rise to success as she won her first singles title and went on to defeat such big-shot players as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, and Nadia Petrova. Soon, her rankings rose rapidly. In 2006, Ana was ranked as the number 14 player in the world, but quickly jumped to the fourth spot in only one year. In 2008, she made it to the Australian Open final, continuing to prove herself as an avid player. At the 2008 French Open, Ana won her first Grand Slam singles title, beating Dinara Safina in the heated final. It would be remembered as one of Ana’s biggest victories to date.
Style on the Court
As an offensive baseliner, Ana utilizes sheer power to get what she wants. She is known to have both a strong backhand and forehand, thus an equally impressive drop shot. Ana performs her best on all surfaces – a truly versatile player on court. In addition, she shines off court as a down to earth, humble girl with an approachable personality. As an attractive and fresh young woman, Ana is expected to dominate women’s tennis with her feisty flair.