http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary Ana Ivanovic - Diary 2009-11-21T17:24:08+00:00 text/html 2009-11-16T07:52:21+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=249 I'd like to thank everyone who sent me a birthday message last week. I had a very nice time: a quiet dinner with friends! It was my brother's 18th birthday last month – now THAT was a celebration! There were over a hundred people and most of them danced... text/html 2009-10-03T04:40:17+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=247 I guess having to withdraw from Beijing is an appropriate ending to a very disappointing season. This trip to Asia has been a big disappointment and I have struggled with my health pretty much since I arrived. I am sorry to my supporters who were hoping... text/html 2009-09-03T18:01:00+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=246 It's no secret that this is the most difficult time of my career so far. Losing in the first round of the US Open hurt a great deal, I can tell you that. I feel mentally exhausted. This season has been very difficult in terms of my health and form: even... text/html 2009-07-27T20:17:47+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=245 I feel refreshed after an enjoyable holiday. I think it is a great idea to have this mid-season break, as part of the Roadmap, and it has given me time to rest and reflect on my game. More importantly, of course, it has allowed me to get fit again after... text/html 2009-07-03T10:07:55+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=244 It was a very disappointing end to Wimbledon. I think I have quite a high threshold for pain and have got through quite a few matches when I wasn’t feeling well, but on Monday the pain was too much. I couldn’t carry on. On the positive side, the... text/html 2009-06-28T13:43:24+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=243 I’m very pleased with how the first week of the tournament went. I obviously didn’t plan on having to save match points in my first match, but it was a great match to come through and I have improved with each match since then. I was especially... text/html 2009-06-24T16:09:33+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=242 I’ve had a lot of tough, close matches in my career and yesterday’s was definitely one of them. It’s always extra satisfying to win a match when you have been match point down. I’ve done it quite a few times in my career, and a few times here... text/html 2009-06-22T19:16:45+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=241 I’ve been in England for almost two weeks already. I practised at Roehampton before playing Eastbourne. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t so good to begin with, so I wasn’t able to practise on grass as much as I had planned. Eastbourne is a cute... text/html 2009-05-25T10:25:01+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=240 I was quite pleased with my first round match yesterday. I served well for most of the match and I hit a lot of winners. There is a lot to improve on, but for a Grand Slam first round, it was pretty good. My opponent Sara Errani played very well. She... text/html 2009-04-27T13:56:25+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=239 I'm still pretty excited following our Fed Cup tie at the weekend. I was happy to contribute a point to the team, and Jelena did a great job in winning both her singles matches. I'm proud that we're finally in the top division of this competition. I... text/html 2009-04-17T12:05:13+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=238 I've made a good transition from hard courts to clay. It's physically one of the most difficult times of the season, because you have to work on movements that are specific to clay and require a lot of strength in the legs. I'm happy with how it's gone... text/html 2009-03-12T22:26:46+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=237 Coming to Indian Wells is always a pleasure. This is one of my favourite tournaments for a few reasons. First of all the organization is great, the stadium seems very new and everyone is so welcoming. The crowds are great too, even for practice. Then you... text/html 2009-02-27T12:30:50+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=236 I’m looking forward to playing Serena again on Monday night in New York. It’s a little strange that we play each other two times in a row, considering that I only played her once in a number of years before this month. I really enjoyed our match in... text/html 2009-02-09T20:23:31+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=235 I have just had probably the busiest, and certainly one of the most rewarding, weeks of my career. It’s an experience I will never forget. Where do I start?! Just to backtrack a little bit: I had a very nice holiday in Australia after leaving Melbourne.... text/html 2009-01-31T10:22:48+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=234 I’ve made no secret of my love for Melbourne or this tournament. I was therefore concerned when I heard reports that its long-term future is not entirely safe. For me, it simply isn’t even a question: the Australian Open should remain in Melbourne. I... text/html 2009-01-25T03:07:04+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=233 It's been a very exciting first week with many great matches and storylines to follow. Unfortunately, I became one of them on Friday night. I didn't find anything close to my best tennis here, but I tried my hardest and I cannot do more than that.... text/html 2009-01-18T05:06:59+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=232 The week before a grand slam can sometimes be a little boring. I love competing so much I often get restless and want the tournament to start. But the past week was enjoyable from a social viewpoint. Practice conditions varied. One day the heat was... text/html 2009-01-11T11:59:58+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=231 Many players have their routines and I'm no different. During matches I always have a song playing in my head and this week it was Beyonce's Single Ladies. So when I take to the court it's as if I have my iPod with me. It helps me relax and stay focused,... text/html 2008-12-31T17:04:48+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=230 I first of all want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I will probably have a fairly quiet time this evening, just a nice dinner with my team. I may stay up till midnight, but it will be tough considering that I’ve been going to bed quite early... text/html 2008-12-24T14:10:29+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=229 I feel like I've done a lot over the past month or so. I’ve even been to a couple of football matches. The first one was in Belgrade. It was Serbia against Bulgaria and it was the last match of Savo Milosevic before he retired. I know him a little bit... text/html 2008-12-03T23:30:48+00:00 http://www.anaivanovic.com/index.php?lang=en&path=diary&detailpage=228 I’ve been training in Spain for the past two weeks. I bought a holiday home in Mallorca. It’s a very quiet and peaceful area, so it’s a perfect place to train and relax. I have always liked Mallorca: I used to come here to train when I was 15. I...