Ana Ivanovic is a player with such a huge game that it seems outrageous she is not battling out for the top of rankings. However, her lack of confidence and focus, cumulated with sudden and severe meltdowns during matches have contributed to a series of long and excruciating years of miseries for the former world number 1.
Although she was pose to rule the world, Ana's game was shattered to pieces in late 2008. With her confidence completely crushed, it took all the fighting in the world to get her career back on track. Rebuilding everything from scratch, her progress consisting of really small steps. Even though at times she showed flashes of her trademark brilliance, her inconsistency took its toll, preventing her from really making her mark on the tour.
After ending 2011 with her successful title defence in Bali, I was expecting her to make a full return to winning ways this season. It wasn't quite the case, her only outstanding result coming at Indian Wells where she beat Caroline Wozniacki and Marion Bartoli before an injury ended her semifinal clash against Maria Sharapova.
It might seem incredible, but at this year's US Open she advanced to her first Slam quarterfinal since winning the French Open in 2008. Although she did not benefit from the best of preparations, a kind draw did the trick and the Serb took full advantage. With easy wins over Elina Svitolina from Ukraine and Swede Sofia Ardivsson, Ivanovic booked her place in the third round. American Sloane Stephens did not give anything away, but Ana was able to eventually subdue the talented youngster, 6-7,6-4,6-2 to continue her New York adventure. A routine 6-0,6-4 victory over Bulgarian Tsvetlana Pironkova and Ana got herself a date with red-hot Serena Williams in her first Flushing Meadows quarter.
photo: GETTY IMAGES
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