I Stop Here, Ana & Jelena Continue To WTA World #1.. Ana Ivanovic Still WTA #2, Jelena Jankovic Now #5.. Ana Ivanovic Inbetween The Tournaments.. Jelena Jankovic Offcourt Likes/Dislikes..
Contents:
I Stop Here, Ana & Jelena Continue To WTA World #1
Due to personal reasons, I won't be writing the blog any longer. For the end, these are Ana's (Australian Open 2008 Final) and Jelena's (Charleston Open title) biggest successes before they are to win their first Grand Slam.
Ana Ivanovic Still WTA #2, Jelena Jankovic Now #5 In this morning's, Monday April 14th, WTA list, Ana Ivanovic remained on #2 position with 4157 WTA points, Jelena Jankovic dropped from #3 down to #5 position with 3770. Justine Henan kept #1 position with 6105 points, Svetlana Kuznetsova improved to #3 from previous #4, while Maria Sharapova (the winner of last week's Tier II Amelia Island arose from #5 to #4 position with 3876 points. Anna Chakvetadze is at #6 with 2665 points.
Both Ana and Jelena did not participate in any tournament last week (the biggest one happening Tier II Amelia Island). Ana will not play in the next two weeks until Fed Cup, while Jelena will be defending title (and 430 won points) at Charlston this week.
Jelena is #1 seed in Charleston, her possible opponents could be Cibulkova and Zvonareva, then Schnyder, Dementieva and Radwanska. With such draws, it appeared Jelena had some luck s in other half of the draw are Sharapova, Chakvetadze, Serena Williams and Safina. Jelena will play first match on Wednesday, April 16th.
Jelena said: 'After a few days of rest and shopping in Los Angeles, I went back to Florida and started training again. I'm defending title at Charleston and I spent a lot of time with my condition coach on the beach to be best prepared. It's not easy running sprints and doing all sorts of excercises on sand, but it's a great training for muscles. I wanted to prepare myself the best for long points on clay'.
Jelena passed week visited her main sponsor 'Reebok' in Boston and used the opportunity to visit the Boston Red Sox baseball game and said: 'I didn't know much about this sport but I enjoyed, eating hot dog, as you can see on the picture. Stadium is called Fenway Park and has a very long and reach tradition. It was cool to visit such a special place'.
Aside Charleston tournament, before return to Europe, Jelena will have several promoting activities to do, including 'Trademark' show for Sports TV station ESPN and said: 'I decided it to be my backhand parallel. I hope everyone who will be watching ESPN during summer will be able to see and hear my advices on how to hit backhand in 'JJ style'.
Ana Ivanovic Inbetween The Tournaments With clay season started this week in Amelia Island, Eurosport (TV channel) made an analysis who is the best WTA player on clay surface (criteria based upon results in the last several clay seasons including the last 7 Roland Garosses, taking in consideration the stregth of the tournaments), Ana is placed #3 player on clay, Justine Henan is at #1 and Jelena Jankovic at #2.
Eurosport valued a good result at Grand Slam giving 2 time more points than Tier I events, and a little less than 3 time more than results achieved at category II, III and IV tournaments. As the title winner at the last 3 Roland Garosses, Justine is by far the most successful player on clay while Jelena played brilliantly on clay last season winning Charleston and Rome and reaching Roland Gaross Semifinal.
Ana has been listed in the 300 most influential people (at #92), 100 most influential women and 50 most influential sportmen in Serbia by the Serbian daily newspapers 'Blic'.
Ana appeared on the Calcutta Times (Indian newspapers) front page in the first week of April and commentated on the upcoming clay season: 'I really enjoy playing on clay and Berlin last year was a turning point in my career, not just because I won the tournament but because I reached the top 10 during this event'.
Ana: 'It’s been a very good start to the year. I feel like I continued on the same path that I was on last year. Obviously reaching the final of the Australian Open was a big highlight for me. The tournaments in Doha and Dubai were very frustrating. Getting injured is the most difficult thing about being a professional tennis player and I had a bad experience in Doha'.
Ana: 'It’s the next Grand Slam (Roland Gaross) and my goal is to win it. I have already reached two finals so I know what it takes to get there, and now I need to go one step further and win a Grand Slam. Paris is a special place for me, not just because of last year but I had a great time there three years ago when I reached the quarter-finals'.
Ana also talked about grass season that follow clay season: 'It’s definitely one of the most difficult parts of the season. It would be good if there was more time to adjust, and to recover from the French Open. But I see it as a big challenge, and one that I’ll enjoy'.
Ana: I have a good chance (at Wimbledon). I feel like my game is well suited to grass, because I have a good serve and I can play at the net and be aggressive. But there are many great players and it’s going to be extremely tough.
Ana's thoughts on Roger Federer: 'I have met him a few times. Actually I interviewed him last year, at a party just before the U.S. Open for The Tennis Channel. He’s a very nice guy. We talked tennis a little bit and it was very interesting for me to hear what he said, because I can definitely learn from him. I enjoy watching him play a lot'.
Ana will rest two weeks more, until April 26th, and the Fed Cup match, Ana's thoughts on her WTA schedule: 'It's very importanat to pay attention on choosing the tournaments because it's impossible to play good at several tournaments one after another. My first next tournament will be Berlin when I'm defending title, afterwards follow Rome and Roland Gaross'. Amelia Island is ongoing this week and Charleston starts next week.
In offcourt news, Wentworth Miller commanted on Ana's comment about him (in answer to fan questions who is one person Ana would choose to spend a day with, Ana said it's Wentworth). Wentworth said it would be a great honor to meet Ana and one does not need to follow tennis to know who Ana Ivanovic is and that aside being one of the best tennis players she is also one of the pretties tennis players.
Jelena Jankovic Offcourt Likes/Dislikes In this week's WTA rankings, Ana Ivanovic stayed at #2 and Jelena Jankovic at #3 position. Both Ana and Jelena will not be on court this week, Ana will rest until April 26 and Fed Cup match while Jelena will participate next week at Charlston.
Here are some details about Jelena's likes/dislikes offcourt: Jelena's favorite animals is dog and she has a Maltese named Napoleon who lives at her home in Miami. Jelena wears and rotates pink and white tennis dresses by Rebook and for the time of being those two are to stay as Rebook is not sending new ones, Jelena prefers the pink color model as she prefers brigher colors and wears it more.
Jelena's priority this year are the Singles matches and she may play Doubles only at Grand Slams. Jelena has expressed her wish to play in Doubles with Ana at the Beijing Olympics this summer.
Jelena's favorite dessert is chocolate and she can be a fanatical about it (luckily she trains and stays in shape:). Jelena looks forward towards the upcoming clay season as she had a great clay court season last year winning two Tier Is and playing in the Semifinals of Roland Gaross.
Jelena lives on two sides of the world, when tournaments are in North America she spends time in her house in Miami USA, when the tournaments are in Europe, she spends time in her home town Belgrade in Serbia.
In the offseason Jelena prefers more spending time at warmer places, with cold winters in Belgrade, she usually spends more time in Miami. Even though Jelena prefers warmer weather, heat (especially over 100 degress) is the hardest thing about playing a match.
Jelena: 'The first couple games in the third set were the crucial games, which I let them go, and I had game points in the first game, third set and the second. You know, I had easy balls, you know, to go up 15‑40, and I missed that shot. There was a lady who was little bit screaming during the point, and I lost, somehow, my focus on that shot'.
Jelena: 'Because, you know, when you're playing you're so focused. All of a sudden somebody screams from the crowd, and you ‑‑ in that split second you kind of ‑‑ I don't know what happens. I just made that mistake and I lost those games, and then I tried to come back. I tried to fight. I thought that Serena really had trouble closing out the match'.
Jelena: 'She looked so nervous out there. I could never believe that a girl who has won so many Grand Slams, so many tournaments, could be that nervous, you know, closing out the match. It felt like it was her first time, you know, to win that tournament. She has won it so many times'.
Jelena: 'But she was very strong, especially in the first set, you know. When she's playing her best tennis, when she's serving well, it's just tough to match up against her. Even though I work hard physically, I can never in my life be as strong as her. So it's just a big difference. But I was trying my best out there. It was windy. It was hard for me to, you know, play the balls where I wanted them. She was the better one today, and she's the winner of this tournament'.
Jelena: 'I was sick. You know, it was so really annoying for me to be sick, you know, and playing a final. I felt little bit weak today. I felt ‑‑ I couldn't breathe. But I didn't, I tried not to think about this. I tried just to play the game and just enjoy it and have fun'.
Jelena: 'Finally I finished the tournament so I can rest, because I've been on antibiotics. I think with the playing and a lot of action, being sick, you cannot recover. I think I need some rest in order to get better, and I finally can do that after today'.
Jelena: 'I started to feel a little bit dizzy in the court, light headed like when I blow my nose my ears were popping like when you're on the airplane. That's how it feels. It's uncomfortable, but what can I do? I kept coughing and coughing, and I coughed my way through the tournament. It was really weird. (laughter.) I had to do ‑‑ I had to do my best in order to be here'.
Jelena: 'Even though I don't feel, you know, 100%, there's not ‑‑ nothing in my mind that will make me default so I cannot go. I can be weak and I don't care. I will not play, I cannot compete at my best, and then just default in the final. That would be really bad for the fans. I could never do that'.
Jelena: 'So I'm sick, but I tried my best out there to play my game and to match up against, you know, very strong opponent. But obviously I didn't ‑‑ I couldn't do it. It was a three‑set match, and it was a tough one'.
Jelena: 'I thought I could come back at the end. You know, if I had won that game at 5‑4, I didn't think that could have happened. It was unlucky for me, but next time. I had a pretty good score against her ‑‑ I beat her in Australia and I played so much better. Here with the wind on one side it's so much tougher. I hit so hard and my balls went past service line. It's difficult, but that's just the way it has to go'.
Jelena: 'I had all these actors when I was returning. It was just funny. I was thinking that one of the actors was in that movie, if you know, White Men Can't Jump. I was feeling when I was playing that match, I thought, White Girls Can't Play, you know'.
Jelena: 'I felt like that at a certain point when I was playing against Serena. I was just like there's no way I can play with this girl. She's just too strong for me. But, you know, I could have done it, but she was just, you know, too good at the end'.
Jelena talked about being love-3 down in the second set and love-5 down in the third set: 'That is one quality that I have, and there's going to be days when I'm not going to play well, like maybe today, and there are going to days when I'm going to play well. But something that is always there is my fighting spirit, no matter what the score is'.
Jelena: 'If it's 5‑Love, 3‑Love, whatever the score is, I'm not giving up. I'm still out there and I'm still fighting for every point, and I still believe that I can come back and win the match. I was on my way, but unfortunately it didn't happen'.
Jelena: 'The crowd enjoyed, you know, the match. I think it was for both, but obviously she's American, and for sure she's going to have many more fans here. But I also had many, many fans, and especially Serbian fans. You could always hear them. They're always loud, and you always know where they are'.
Jelena: 'It's just a fun atmosphere to play in front of the crowd. It's amazing. It was a full stadium. It was a nice final overall. I thought that I'm going to come back at 5‑3. I was ‑‑ you know, I just said to myself, If only I can make one more game, 5‑4, and go out on the other side and play with the wind and she's against the wind. It's so much tougher. She hits so hard.
Jelena: 'But then I can still manage to play aggressive and dictate those points from that side, but I didn't do it. So it was unfortunate, but I believe that I could have, I could come back'.
Jelena: 'I feel like I'm making improvement on the physical part, because I've been working with a fitness trainer in Indian Wells and here throughout these two tournaments. I already feel that I'm making some progress, but it takes time, of course'.
Jelena: 'But I already feel a lot better than I felt in Dubai where I played a third‑setter and I couldn't even move. I was too tired, too exhausted. I was completely out of shape. And now I'm coming back, I'm getting better and better, but it will take, you know, more time, of course'.
Jelena: 'But as for the coach, hopefully, you know, I was getting some help here in beginning of the tournament and as well in Indian Wells. Makes a huge difference, because I'm No. 3 player in the world without a coach, and I can just imagine what will happen to me if I have a full‑time coach that will be there for me all the time and share his knowledge and experience with me'.
Serena: 'I thought I had like 15 matches points. I'm glad to know it wasn't. I really thought I had 15. I don't know. I just ‑‑ a couple of shots she hit really well, and then a couple of times I made some mistakes, and I was just like, it was just weird'.
Serena: 'I was definitely up and on my way to glory, and out of there, you know, within an hour. But, you know, I made a lot, I started making a lot of mistakes. Then I think I wasn't doing, Jelena obviously started playing when you have nothing to lose it's like you play like you have nothing to lose, and those are the most dangerous people in life, you know, on the court'.
Serena: 'So I think she just started making some great shots and, you know, putting a few more balls in play, and I started missing some important shots. You know, she got lucky a few times. I got lucky, you know, then she just closed it out'.
Serena: 'Jelena is a great fighter. She seems to always be down match point and sometimes is coming back and winning. Not only that, the fact that she's a great player and fighter, also the fact I made mistakes I shouldn't have made and I missed shots I shouldn't have missed'.
Serena: 'I didn't do the right, the same thing that got me to be up a set 3‑Love. It's more a factor of me allowing myself to be dominated, so I think if you factor in all those factors, then that's kind of what happened'.
Serena: 'I think she's definitely unpredictable. She's hitting shots down the line and she'll mix it up and go crosscourt, she'll hit a lob. She's not someone you can say, I know she's going to do this at this point. You have to always be on your toes'.
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic Lost In Final Jelena Jankovic has lost in her first WTA Final in 2008 against Serena Williams in 3 sets, 1:6 7:5 3:6. The match that lasted almost 2 and a half hours of epic battle was full of Jelena's (or was it Serena's) up and downs.
Serena was dominating for almost 1 hour and a half, won 6:1 first set, led 3:0 in second set having 2 break games advantage, and just when it looked the match is already finished, Jelena made a huge comeback, re-breaked, lowered Serena's lead to 3:2, 5:4.
Serena served for the match but due to series of errors she did not manage to win a single point, and made it 5:5 in games. Jelena was down 0:40 in the next game, though managed to win it and took a lead for the first time in second set 6:5. After yet another not so well Serena's service game, Jelena won set 7:5.
At that moment it looked Jelena is in the commanding seat of the match, she had a great support from the crowd with many local Serbs there, Serena seemed to have lost her play, Jelena won over Serena in this year's and last year's Australian Open without losing a set, all facts were going to Jelena's favore, still...
Jelena lost service game at the start of 3rd set, was it exhaustion or that she cought a cold effects, just Jelena asked for medical time-out. She complained on problems with breathing and headache. Pause did no good for Jelena, soon Serena led 5:0.
Jelena continued to fight, lowered Serena's lead to 5:2, saving several match points during that span, in 8th game Serena led 40:0, Jelena won the next 4 points, then after Serena's 4th match point in that game, Jelena managed to win it and make it 5:3 after which Serena trashed her recket against the ground.
When it looked a miracle comeback is possible, 8 times Grand Slam winner Serena took 40:0 lead, 40:30 and finished the game/set/match. Noise Serena made during each smatch showed how much effort she put in winning the title in the tournament that is only about 15 minutes drive away from her home.
In the end, Serena had 3 times more 'winners' (48:16) and made 56 unforced errors in compare to Jelena's 44. With the win at Miami Open Jelena could have reached World #2 position in the WTA Rankings, with the appearance in the Final Jelena cut the 500 difference behind Ana (Ivanovic) to half.
As for Serena, this is her 5th time to win the title at Miami Open, she is now tied for the all-time record with Steffi Graf whow was 5 time winner in the period from 1987-1996, while Serena previously did it in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.
Serena earned $590.000 winning the title, Jelena $295.000 for playing in the Final.
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic In Final, Naturally :) Jelena Jankovic is in the Final of Miami Open after win over Vera Zvonareva in straigth sets, 6:1 6:4. In the evening match that started 8pm local time (ETD, 2am CET) Jelena won against Vera with no problems and made the walk to the Final of the tournament many refer to as the '5th Grand Slam'.
During the match Jelena felt neck/upper back pain as she explains: 'I got a little bit stiff and I had a little bit of pain during the second set, but I think I will be fine. I will get some treatment now, and then tomorrow, loosen up a little bit, and that's it'.
Jelena: 'I've been working on my serve quite a lot, and been working on the getting stronger, especially my shoulder, so it's not surprising that I'm a little bit tightening up, but that's what I have to do in order to get better, in order to get stronger'.
Jelena: 'And I'm really excited to be in the finals here for the first time. I think I played some good tennis tonight, even though it's very difficult to play, you know, at 10:00, 10:00 p.m. and be 100% and move as well as I can do at night, where I felt, you know, sometimes I can be a little bit sleepy out there and a little bit slower than usual'.
Jelena: 'But I tried to and especially being a little bit sick it obviously doesn't help, but I was really focused out there. I tried to hit as much as I can, you know, dictate the points. I served pretty well, especially those last two games. The serve was the main shot that helped me win the match, and I was really happy with that, with that part'.
Jelena: 'But obviously, you know, during the night, the conditions are a lot different, because the balls are fluffier and the points get a lot longer than during the day. Some of the shots you hit would normally be winners, and then at night it's not. You can still get them back. So the rallies are a lot longer. It's tougher work out there. But I managed to do it, and I'm happy to win the match and looking forward to my final against Serena'.
Jelena talked about her first match in the tournament when she was close to exit saving opponent's 5 match points: 'I didn't really expect the tough match from the first round, and that's why maybe I underestimated my opponent'.
Jelena: I thought it won't be such a tough match for me. But I played so badly that, you know, I got into trouble, and that was the big, big problem for me, the issue. But I don't want to think about that. I got through this match. It was a good experience. It was a good thing for my confidence to get through this match in that way, and then now playing with the way I'm playing now, it's really amazing, so I just hope to continue like that, like this'.
Jelena's thoughts on the upcoming match with Serena Williams: 'Last time we played was Melbourne in the quarterfinal, which I won in two sets. It was ‑‑ I don't remember what, 6‑3, 6‑4, something. I remember that I was really playing really well.
Jelena: 'That was my best match at the Australian Open, but I have to really go out there and really play aggressive tennis. It's very important to return well against her, and as well, to serve, to hold serves, because it's very difficult to break her. And just go for my shots and it will be a good fight, hopefully good match'.
Jelena: 'I've played against her many times. I've beaten her many times before, so I know how to play against her and know what to expect from her. But I also know that I really have to play good tennis in order to win, because she's a great champion and a tough opponent to beat'.
Jelena: She's way stronger than me. I cannot compare to her. There's no doubt about that. But I will go out there and try to play my best tennis. It's final of a huge tournament. It's fifth biggest tournament, Sony Ericsson, it's amazing. So I will just try out there my best, and hopefully I can win the title'.
Jelena will now play in the Final against Serena Williams who overcame Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Semifinal in 3 sets, 3:6 7:5 6:3. Jelena and Serena played 5 times against each other and Jelena leads 3-2.
Serena's thoughts on the Final match: 'I don't feel tired or sore or anything at all. I don't feel ‑‑ I feel like I'm really fit. Even right now, I'm not tired. This is one of my favorite tournaments. I love playing here. All my friends come out. I promised tickets for Saturday, so I was, like, I can't lose. I've got to stay in there a little bit longer. It was mainly my motivation'.
Serena: 'I think I've played a great tournament, and I'm just happy to be still in it and doing the best I can do. As long as I'm doing the right thing on the court, I feel like I can come out on top, but I just have to make sure I'm doing what's right'.
Both Jelena and Serena live in Florida and feel at home, though it's Serena that has a house in Palm Beach Gardens so this will be as if she's having a 'home court advantage'. The match is on schedule tomorrow, Sunday April 05.
Jelena makes reaching the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of Tier I events look so easy as if it's 'everyweek's thing' and we hope she will easily won the Title as well.
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic Against Vera Zvonareva Jelena Jankovic will play today, Thursday April 03, against Vera Zvonareva in the Semifinals. Vera won against Dinara Safina in a way she explains: 'It's always tough to play against Dinara, she's a great player. She's quite tall, you know. She has a good serve. So I had to hang in there, had to fight for every point, and I think I did it well and I was able to win key points. I'm really happy about that'.
Vera is World #20 but also World #8 in Race, her career high was World #9 place in 2004, she played Round 1 of Australian Open 2008 against Ai Suguyama when she retired in 2nd set.
Vera's this year's high-lights include Hobart (VS, IV, $175.000) Final in January where she retired before the match against Eleni Danilidou, Final in Doha (VS, I, $2.500.000) and Quarterfinals in Bangalore and Indian Wells so Vera is in a great form.
This is what Jelena thought about possible opponent from Vera-Dinara match: 'I think both of the players Zvonareva and Safina are tough players, solid players. I really have to go out there and play my game. I don't really have to worry too much about them. I have to see what I can do in order to win'.
Jelena's thoughts on the next few days in Miami: 'Win two more matches. I think that's all I need to do. It's so easy to say, but it's always very hard to do. I want to focus one match at a time. I have tough opponent in my next round, and tomorrow night I play at 9:00 again, which is something that I don't really, you know, like. But that's just the way it has to be'.
Jelena: 'Just go out there and try to play aggressive tennis. I've been working quite hard. I feel like I'm getting stronger. I'm getting more defined. My legs are getting a little more stronger and my arms as well'.
Jelena: 'I feel like I'm doing a lot of progress, which is the most important thing. Winning or losing, you know, maybe at the moment it's important, but also to keep improving, to work on some certain segments of your game, it's important as well. I think I'm doing that, and I'm on the right track'.
Oh, and the inevitable theme, the dress she played in, Jelena: 'That dress was quite unique. That dress was especially designed for me. It was made out of approximately 700 Z750 Sony Ericsson phones, which was quite amazing. It was quite delicate and quite a work of art really'.
Jelena: 'The back was open. It was made out of phone covers and like camera lenses and I buttons here and as well as on my shoes. They were with Swarovski crystals and the whole look was quite nice. Beautiful dress. It was very uncomfortable because I couldn't sit with all that plastic all over. It was interesting. First ever dress ever to be made out of phones, so I had a cool experience from it'.
Vera's thoughts on the upcoming match against Jelena: 'We had tough matches. I remember the final. It was ‑‑ it was a good final. Good fight. She's obviously a great player. She's always fights. She stays in the matches'.
Vera: 'You know, it's very difficult to play against her, but it's another day tomorrow, and we'll see. You know, I'm going to go out there and going to try my best, gonna find a way to, you know, to try to win that match tomorrow'.
Jelena is a favorite to win against Vera and make it to the Miami Open Final (tournament many refer to as the 5th Grand Slam). Jelena continues tramendeous consistency of good results this season, this time Jelena had some luck in the draws, she was not in the same part of the draw tree with Justine Henan, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Williams Sisters, Maria Sharapova missed the tournament due to injury and Ana (Ivanovic) lost early.
After losing in Semifinals of first Grand Slam of the season, Jelena will now play for a place in the Final of so-called '5th Grand Slam' of the seasons Miami Open, and possible match against Justine Henan or Serena Williams.
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic In Semifinals Jelena Jankovic made it to the Semifinals after a win over Elena Dementieva not in the way Jelena hoped it to be as Elena retired during 2nd set due to injury. Jelena lead 1:0 in sets, 6:1 in games, and led in 2nd set 3:1 in games when Elena retired due to back pain.
Jelena was dominating the first set, started with a 3:0 lead, then lost service game for 3:1, later won all games and set on the second set point. In the 2nd set, Jelena made a break for 3:1 lead, after which Elena retired.
Jelena: 'I think I played pretty good tennis, especially in the first set. I was really dictating the points. I thought that I played quite well. I didn't let her play her game. I really put my ‑‑ it was my game overall that was out there on the court, and I was really happy with that'.
Jelena: 'But unfortunately she stopped the match in the middle of the second set, and there's nothing I could do. But I was really focused out there. I was executing my shots well. I was really doing the right things and playing pretty well tactically'.
Jelena: 'I have a cold. I got a cold again for some reason. There's some cold going around here with players, and the rest of the, you know, the guests and the coaches and et cetera. So I'm more focussed than usual because I know that I'm not 100 percent with my health'.
Jelena: 'I'm coughing a lot. My nose is running. But really when I go on court I don't really think about that. I just think about playing one point at a time, what is my game plan, what do I have to do in order to win? I've been doing quite well'.
Jelena: 'I just got antibiotics last night. Finally they gave it to me, because they always wanted ‑‑ they always think that you can get over it naturally, but it takes so long. I've been suffering the last, I don't know how many days'.
Jelena: 'So finally I got on antibiotics, and hopefully I'll be fine in a couple of days. I felt a little bit weak here and there. What can I do? I have to go through and have to be strong. It's okay. No problem'.
Jelena: 'I never played well here, and as well as Indian Wells. Those tournaments I never really could find my game, and always had trouble playing well. But now this has changed this year. I played semis at Indian Wells and I'm playing semis tomorrow night, and hopefully I don't want to stop'.
Jelena: 'I'm playing well at this tournament. I've been working very hard. I feel like I'm playing better and better each time. My game is going to the next level, which is important. Hopefully I can step it up and go further'.
Jelena: 'When I'm playing I always try to finish the match and try to complete it no matter what. But some players, they don't want to risk ‑‑ it's individual, but that's her choice. I don't want to comment on her, what kind of injuries she has, how she felt on the court. I went out there, I did my job, and I'm happy with the win. I'm in semifinal, and that's the most important thing'.
Jelena: 'I'm fighting. I'm sick, you know. I cannot play; I cannot breathe on the court. I cannot play. I don't want to go on the court. But I'm hanging in there and trying to be strong, trying to get over the cold, and that's the most important thing'.
Jelena: 'The last couple of days have been really exhausting for me, because I played three days in a row. I played that night where I finished at 12:30 in the morning, and then couldn't go to bed until 2:30 in the morning. Then played, I don't know, several hours later, I played my fourth round, and then I only had a day off yesterday, which was good'.
Jelena: 'But I'm hanging there. It took a lot out of me. Especially that first match was really tough mentally. To come back after being down 5‑1, I don't know, five or six match points. It was a scary feeling, you know, just thinking that I may be over, you know, with this tournament, that it's the end of it. But I was really strong mentally and was able to get through that match, which gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the tournament'.
Jelena: 'Normally in the big tournaments we have one day we play and the next day we don't play. Here we have three days in a row where we played, and especially I played the second match after 8:00 at night. I had to play the next day, which I think can be quite tough for the players, you know, to recover. You cannot go to bed until really late in the morning, and then you have to play the match several hours later and you're quite exhausted.
Jelena: 'I played a three‑hour match, and I had to come back here the next day. It was several hours later I'm playing against Safarova, which was another tough match. But I was able to come through all of this and I'm in the semifinal; there's no point to complain'.
Elena said she started feeling lower back pain the day before the match (2 days ago) and that Jelena has what it takes to make win the title.
Elena: 'She (Jelena) has the whole package of the game. She's moving well, has a good forehand, backhand. Whole game is very solid. She's very relaxed on the court and enjoys playing. She's a very tough opponent'.
While Jelena has been Top #3 or #4 for some time now, it still looks subreal with what ease she is making it to the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of each tournament she particates in, she must be the player who played the most Quarterfinals of Tier I (including Grand Slam) event. Every player outside Top 5 would have it in the high-light of the year box to reach what Jelena is achieving tournament after tournament.
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic In The Quarterfinals Jelena Jankovic is in the Quarterfinals after a win againt Jie Zheng in 2 sets, 6:4 7:5. Jelena, #4 seed, had tu put a bit more effort for the win than in her previuos match, still shows she is great form.
Jie, World #117 who eliminated Amelie Mouresmo in earlier Round, was equal match to Jelena in early part of the match, all until 9th game when Jelena made a break and eventually won the set 6:4.
After 4 games of second set and Jelena's 3:1 lead, it looked like Jelena is off to yet another easy win, though Jie made it 3:3 in games, 5:5. In the end, Jelena won second set 7:5 and match in 97 minutes.
Jelena will now play against Elena Dementieva, World #11. Jelena and Elena played against each other 5 times, Jelena won at Australian Open (hard) R128 in 2004, US Open (hard) Quarterfinals in 2006, Rome (clay) Quarterfinals in 2007, Elena won at New Heaven (hard) Quarterfinals in 2004 and Los Angeles (hard) Final in 2006.
Elena is a great form as well, she won Dubai (Tier I) some 3 weeks ago and skipped Indian Wells. She did not much problems against Sabine Lisicki (World #137) in previous round with the win in straigth sets, 6:3 6:2.
We wish Jelena to win and not to get over-exhausted, with Elena being the ultimate baseliner playing long points, and Jelena facing the toughest opponent up to now in Miami, it may easily be a 2+ hours match. The match is on schedule tomorrow, Wednesday April 2nd, not before 1pm local time (EDT, 19.00 Central European Time)
Miami Open: Jelena Jankovic Won Against Lucie Safarova Jelena Jankovic was more than convincing against Lucie Safarova in Round 3 match in winning in two sets, 6:2 6:1. In contrast to first match in the tournament against Sofia Arvidsson when Jelena needed to save 5 match points, this time #3 seed gave no chances for eventual surprise in a match against Lucie.
Jelena served good and did not lose a single service game, while making 2 breaks per set for a place in the next round. Jelena will now play against Jie Zheng, 24 year old from China current World #174 in Singles, Jie is mainly a Doubles players where she is currently World #15.
Jelena and Jie played 3 times with Jelena leading 2-1, Jelena won in Vienna (clay) in 2003 and Tokyo (carpet) in 2007, while Jie won in Beijing (hard) in 2005. The match will start not before 1.40pm local time.
Off-court, Jelena made a surprising visit to Margaret Lumia for a one hour hit at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne to give her support to the Gullikson Foundation, on Thursday March 27th. Here is what Jelena said on that occasion:
'Coming out to play with Margaret was something I was happy to do. Giving back to the sport of tennis, especially when a charity such as the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation is involved, is important to me and something I look forward to continuing to support in the future'.
Margaret and her husband Dave Lumie are supporters of Swingtime - a pro celebrity pro-am tennis & golf tournament benefiting the Tim & Tom Gullikson foundation (funds care and supports programs to assist brain tumor patients). Swingtime has now raised more than $1 million for the Gullikson Foundation that was established in 1995.
In the news going around Miami Open, notable players that are already out of the tournament include Ana (Ivanovic), Nicole Vaidisova, Anna Chakvetadze, Alize Cornet, Daniela Hantuchova, Amelie Mouresmo... Players that are in the Quarterfinals, among all, are: Justine Henan, Elena Dementieva and Williams sisters.
Miami Open: Ana Ivanovic Lost Against Lindsay Davenport Ana Ivanovic lost Round 3 match against Lindsay Davenport in two sets, 4:6 2:6, in a match that lasted only 1 hour and 17 minutes. Ana was pretty much the inferior player through the match losing 6 out of 9 service games.
Lindsay, who started playing professional tennis when Ana was 5 years old, won a little under 50% of points on Ana's first serve and over 70% won points on Ana's second serve.
Ana was #2 seed at Miami Open but Lindsay, winner of 55 tournaments in her career, proved to be in a great form. Lindsay said she won't be participating in the clay season tournaments including Roland Gaross and put all her strainght in Miami Open matches.
Here is what Ana and Lindsay had to say after the match, Ana about playing against Lindsay: 'It was a little bit. Obviously, first time you play against someone you try to, you know, get to know them and try to get rhythm in the beginning'.
Ana: 'But against her you just don't get it. She was playing extremely well. She had always the first hit on her ball. It was kind of disappointing for me. I had chances in the beginning and didn't use them. Just my intensity wasn't up there today. When you play against such a champion, you need to be on the ball for each point'.
Ana: 'I must say I haven't played against many players who can return so well and so deep, so she puts a lot of pressure on my serve. So then I try to go for a little bit more. Try to put more first serves in. Try to roll it a little bit more so I have to take off the speed. That's, obviously, what she wants and I don't want. But it was the case today. Yeah, she just played better'.
Ana: 'Today on the court she was the better one. You know, she deserved to win. My service wasn't going so well, and I had quite a few unforced errors. Yeah, like I said, she was the better player today, and I hope we get a chance to play again'.
Ana: 'She played like a top 10 player easily today. She won Grand Slams before, and she was the No. 1 player. So she has the game. Today she played very well. So, you know, I'm glad to see her back, and I hope she can do well'.
Ana: 'These days there are so many girls that are hitting really powerful, and they try to dominate the game. But with her it was different. You know, she was playing also very deep, which other girls usually don't play as deep. So after the serve I felt straightaway under pressure.
Ana: 'It was hard for me to direct the ball and control the court. That is something that she does really well. So, yeah, I know these things I have to learn and to improve and practice on it, because in the future, maybe I'll have a chance to play against her again'.
Ana: 'It's also important to make a smart scheduling and don't play too many tournaments in a row, because you just can't keep the level through many weeks. So that's something, you know, I'm experiencing for one of the first times. Definitely I learn from this, and it was a good achievement still. You know, I was pretty happy with last week. And this week, like I said, she was the better player today'.
Lindsay: 'We had a really, really long tough first game, and I didn't win that game. I thought like that was a really important game. It turned out that it wasn't that big a deal. I mean, I was playing really well. I felt really confident out there. Was hitting the ball well'.
Lindsay: 'I thought going in, I mean, obviously she's had a great year so far. But it's very tough to play Indian Wells and Miami back‑to‑back, doing well in Indian Wells. You can see on the men's side with Fish and Djokovic. I was trying to take advantage of that, obviously'.
Lindsay: 'You never know what your opponent will bring, but I could tell she was maybe a little fatigued, and I tried to take advantage of that. I was really excited to play someone at the top. Someone that I hadn't played before, and someone kind of up and coming.
Lindsay: 'She's been around for a few years, but obviously she's young and very good. But in this comeback, I felt like I ‑‑ for lack of better words, I've not made a fool of myself. I've done pretty well for my age and for what I've been through. Obviously, days like today just give me more intensive to keep going'.
Lindsay: 'So today's obviously the biggest win I've had since coming back. It's quite rewarding. But having said that, I've got to come right back out tomorrow and play another girl in the top I think 15 or 16. Got to play at a high level again'.
Lindsay: 'I had a few minor setbacks, like not winning the first game. I was serving at 3‑0, 40‑Love, and got broken and quickly had to change the momentum back in my favor again. Today I was able to do that. Some days it doesn't always go like that'.
Ana's words on the upcoming clay season and health condition of her ankle:
Ana: 'On the clay the matches are a little bit longer, so, you know, you've got to match more longer rallies. But my fitness coach has done a great job. I believe in his work and what he does with my fitness, so I have to keep working hard. I have a big clay court season coming up, and I'm looking forward to it. But now I'll have some time off to rest and to recover and start working again'.
Ana: 'The first tournament is Berlin. Obviously, I have Fed Cup at the end of April, and then the first tournament will be Berlin, Rome, and then French Open. Playing on clay, obviously, you have to maybe win points more than once, you know, during the rallies. So that's something I have to learn from last year to keep it going this year. Just, yeah, be patient, and still work hard for each point'.
Ana: 'It's just prevention (ankle). I haven't had any pain for a few weeks now, so I was really happy to be recovered so fast'.
Ana also commented on Novak's (Djokovic, ATP #3) early exit at Miami Open where he was the titlist from last year: We haven't had chance to talk about it. We're both very busy. But I understand also for him, it was, obviously very disappointing to lose. You know, he's defending champion. But just he's also very young, and he's also learning.
Ana: 'You have to come back here and perform well and play, you know, really good tennis from the first chance. And opponents are very motivated to beat you and to perform better because they have nothing to lose, and they just play some great tennis. Obviously, it's tougher for the top players. But, hey, that's why they are the top players'.
Ana's word about Sven Groenefeld (her coach): 'He's helped me a lot. He gave me great support, and I'm so lucky and happy to have him on my side and to be working with him. Because since last year when I started spending more time with him on the court, I felt I improved a lot. He's very experienced, and he gave me a lot of advices.
Ana: 'He's been with the players before that won a Grand Slam and that won a big tournament, so that's definitely something I can learn from him. And I'm looking forward to see him again to work'.
Ana: 'I definitely have good communication with him and I trust him a lot, and it's not easy, as you said. It's not easy when I have to play another adidas player, because he obviously cannot advise me how to beat them. He can't sit in the box or he can't be there to support me, although we practice before'.
Ana: 'So it is a little bit tough, you know, especially, for example, last year when I played against Justine in the final of French. It was such a big moment for me, and yet he couldn't be there. It's tough, but that's the way it has to be. We just have to get the positives'.
Ana lost and it's that bit disappointing for her not to reach at least Quarterfinals of the tournaments she participates in considering she's World #2 and either #2 or #1 seed, still Ana had teriffic North American season up to now, winning Indian Wells, now reaching a step more in Miami than last year.
Taking in consideration Ana's fatig after Indian Wells, and Lindsay's great perfomance, this loss was not a major stepback. Most important, Ana does not prefer any surface so she can perform equally good in the upcoming clay season that starts with the tournaments after Miami Open in two weeks from now mid of April.
Miami: Jelena Jankovic Made A Huge Comeback In Round 2 Jelena Jankovic put much more effort in win over Swede Sofia Arvidsson than it was exected from World #3 in her first match in tournament. As a matter a fact, Jelena achieved a little miracle in a win against World #63.
Jelena was trailing 1:5 in 3rd set and eventually won the match 2:1 in sets, 6:7 (7:9) 6:2 7:6(11:9), that lasted 2 and a half hours, with only 3rd set lasting 67 minutes.
Jelena was close to destiny of her compatriot Novak (Djokovic, ATP World #3) who saw early exit from Miami Open in Round 2, still with increadable fight and will to win Jelena managed to find her way up from almost the lost situation.
Jelena made 56 'winners', but also the same number of unforced errors. In first set, both players made 2 breaks, and the Swede had more nerves in 13th game for a win. Second set was all about Jelena and soon it was 1:1 in sets.
In 3rd set, Sofia put her play to the maximum and achieved 5:1 lead. Jelena was known to be able to lose almost a won match when leading 5:1 herself but this time she was the one to rise up and make a huge comeback.
In great style, Jelena won the next 4 games, made it to the tie-break which she won 11:9, after Sofia having 5 match points. Maybe Jelena felt too much at home in Miami having a house there. Anyway, she will be on court today, Sunday March 30th, against Lucie Safarova.
Lucie is World #39 with the career high in Singles at #22 in August 2007. She reached Round 1 in this year's Australian Open and lost against Ashley Harkleroad in Indian Wells R64 in 3 sets, 6:7(2) 6:2 4:6.
Jelena played against Lucie on two occassions and both won. Lucie won in her previous two matches in Miami Open against S. Cirstea 2:0 and K. Knapp 2:1. The match will start not before 2pm local time.
Miami Open: Ana Ivanovic Wins In Round 2, Next Lindsay Devenport Ana Ivanovic won in her first match at Miami Open against French Emilia Loa with almost as easy win as it can be in two sets, 6:2 6:1, in only 47 minutes. Ana confirmed she's in great form and made Round 2 match look like a practice rathe than a competitive match.
Ana gave Emilia little chances for win in this match, Ana started the match by making a break, then another one... and after only 20 minutes she won the set 6:1. Second set went similar to first one and after 27 minutes Ana won it 6:2.
Ana will now play against former #1 Lindsay Devenport who is currently at #33 position. Interestingly, they never played against each other, Ana said:
'It's going to be a very tough match. Growing up I saw her winning in Grand Slams and she's such a great player and great champion, So I expect a very tough match tomorrow. I admire her what she achieved, and also coming back and winning tournaments. So that's great.
'I just have to still be focused. I have a great tournament behind me, and I'm playing well at the moment. So in tomorrow's match I have to approach it as if it's a final and try to play like that'.
Well, that tomorrow is today, Sunday March 30th, Ana's match is #11 on today's agenda and will not start before 2.30pm local time. Lindsay won in Round 1 against C. Pin in straigth sets. Prior to Miami Open, in Indian Wells, Lindsay won against . G. Dulko, Y.J. Chan, M. Bartoli and retired against Jelena (Jankovic) after losing first set.
Ana talking about Miami Open in compare to Indian Wells: 'It's like a new tournament. I had few times a few days off. Obviously, the time difference is a little bit hard. So you need some time to adjust as well'.
'But it's completely different feeling here. The balls are different, the courts, the wind. It's humid, there it was really dry. So I really approach it like a new tournament. I want to focus on each match separately, and try to keep the level up'.
Lindsay: 'I hope Ivanovic, Ana wins. It's one of the few top players I've never played, and that's what I look forward to most about this come back. You know, I've played Venus and Serena and Justine and those players so many times. It would be refreshing to play someone new'.
Lindsay: 'I have a ton of respect for her. I think she's a great competitor, great player. I think that she is one of the nicest players off the court and very down to earth. She's got a very big game. I watched her play in Australia, especially the match against Daniela. I guess I was home that night watching that. But obviously big groundstrokes, a big serve'.
Lindsay: 'She looks like she's in a lot better shape than two years ago. She moves around the court pretty well. So it's going to be fun to play someone ‑ I think she's 2 in the world now ‑ and she's had a great year so far'.
Ana is a light favorite for win in the match against Lindsay and we hope she will be up to everyone's expectations.
Ana Ivanovic Receives Two Awards Ana Ivanovic received 2 awards in Miami during the WTA ceremony of awarding the best players in 2007 season. Ana won award for the most improved player and the prestigeous Karen Krantzcke Sportmanship Award given to the most sportsmanlike player on the WTA Tour.
This is the second time that Ana received the award for most improved player (first one in 2005 season), Ana won 3 WTA tournaments last year and played Roland Gaross final. Ana won the award ahead of Jelena Jankovic, Anna Chakvetadze and Sybille Bammer.
Ana: 'It's been an amazing year, I have a bad memory of playing here last year, and it's incredible when I think of everything that has happened since. I'm very proud, but I want to go further and get to No.1."
The Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award is voted for by the players is awarded in honor of Karen Krantzcke, Top 10 tennis players who died tragically at the age of 30.
Ana: 'It's always a great feeling to win an award, but this one is a little bit more special because it was voted for by the players I am competing against. "I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me for both awards'.
Larry Scott, WTA Tour chief executive: 'It is a fantastic achievement for Ana to be recognised not only by the media for her on-court achievements, but by her peers for the way she conducts herself on and off the court'.
As for other awards, Justine Henan was voted for 'best player of the year', Agnes Szavay 'newcomer of the year', Lindsay Davenport 'comeback player of the year', Liezel Huber 'player service award winner', Cara Black & Lieziel Huber 'doubles team of the year'.
Ana's match is the last one on schedule (prime-time:) in women's competition today and will not start before 3.30pm local time.
Rafael Nadal Flew Ana Ivanovic In His Airplane :) Rafael Nadal, in a manner of a latino charmer, decided to take a private jet to travel from Indian Wells to Miami, and yes, he had 1 place free. His 'pick' was World #2 as himself just in WTA competition, Ana Ivanovic.
So if you're pretty and successful young woman, Rafael will find a place for you in his private flight, oh my God Rafael is a player on and off the court :) Ana accepted and they flew to Miami... pretty much that's the end of story :)
Talking about top ATP players in regards to Ana, this is what Roger Federer, by some one of the best tennis players in history, had to say in an interview earlier this week in Miami where he talked about Novak Djokovic:
'I am also proud of 'our' Ana who is a Basel representative, as myself. I congratulate her on success at Indian Wells I and wish her to reach no.1 spot in WTA Rankings after Wimbledon where she belongs. My Mirka (Roger's girlfriend, former WTA tennis player) is a big fan of Ana, and she follows all of her matches with great interest'.
Miami Open, officially Sony Ericsson Open, will see Ana play against the winner of Virginia Ruano Pasqual (Spain) - Emillia Loa (France) match in Round 2, while Jelena awaits the winner of match between Swede Sofia Arvidsson and a qualifier.
Full of confidence after winning Indian Wells, Ana will in her part of the draw tree have potentional opponents such as Lindsay Devenport and Dinara Safina up to Round 4, in the Quarterfinals Ana could face Daniela Hantuchova, Nicole Vaidisova and Vera Zvonreva.
Jelena could await in Round 3 Italian Knapp, Czech Safarova and Romanian Kirstea, then Amelie Mouresmo or Nadia Petrova. Possible opponents in the Quarterfinals are Anna Chakvetadze, Alize Cornet, Elena Dementieva, Francesca Skiavone, Sania Mirza...
In all, there are realistic chances that we will see Ana and Jelena battling for the place in the Final. One must admit that A & J had some luck in the draw as in other half of the draw, aside World #1 Justine Henan are also sisters Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Justine missed Indian Wells to get some rest while Williams sisters passed it due to personal reasons. Serena will be defending the title she won against Justine last yr in 3 sets, 0:6, 7:5, 6:3. Maria Sharapova will not participate in Miami because of the shoulder injury.
Jelena lost in Round 3 last year against Italian Mara Santangelo, Ana lost in even earlier in Round 2 against Yaroslava Schvedova, so A & J will have good opportunity to win additional WTA points with so little points to defend from last year.
It's like the sole excitement until the Semifinals is to see whether Jelena and Ana will play against each other again, and which one of them will compete for the title!? It makes Rounds 1-4 boring with one finalist 'almost' already known but A & J are lately flourishing with so many great plays, confidence and self-assurance that those feelings overwhelm the fans as well :)
