Player Profile: Ana Ivanović

Category: Upcoming Prodigy

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Background:

Ana Ivanović was born November 6, 1987 is a former #1 Serbian Tennis Player. As of September 27, 2010, she is ranked World No. 38 on the WTA rankings. She won the 2008 French Open and was the runner-up in singles at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open.

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Early Life:

Born in Serbia, but highly influenced by the western ideas, she was the first player in her family, to actually become affiliated with the international federation. She started her tennis career at the age of 5 with the inspiration of Monica Seles, former #1 tennis player. When she was 15 she lost her first game, shattering her, causing her manager to nearly drop him saying that she did not have what it takes to become the best. But Dan Holzmann has stayed her manager to this day. When she was 17 she won all 26 of the ITF circuit, a tennis tournament, and became the youngest player to have done that, and then it was on to the real deal.

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Professional Career:

     Ivanović won her first career singles title, as a qualifier, in Canberra, Australia after defeating Melinda Czink in the final. Her ranking continued to rise after wins over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova, and Vera Zvonareva, all of whom were top 10 players. Ivanović lost to Amélie Mauresmo at the Australian Open, Doha, and Miami Masters. But she was a rather feisty one and did not give in to the three loses. She fough over and got through to the third round of the French Open, which was arguable the biggest win of her career. She did lose but people started to focus in on her because who ever saw an 18-year-old play in the French open and get to the third round. People train for years just to get their. But her greatest event is yet to come.

     Ivanović made her breakthrough in August when she defeated former World No. 1 Martina Hingis in the final of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. This ultimately led to her winning the United States Open Series ahead of Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova. However at the US Open she lost to Serena Williams causing her to lose the title of number 1. She would have been the youngest player at the age of 18, in all of tennis history to hold the number one spot for more than a month. She now at the age of 23 has won 1 french open, and seeded in the Wimbleton and Australian. Seeded, means that you earned a place on the bracket allowing your name to be recognized, this goes for the top 10, but can also be for the top 20. Currently Ivanovic is the #38 player in the world and has progressed rapidly through the years, and is one of the most anticipated players of the year.  

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 Famous Things Ana is Famous For:

- Won her first open, when most tennis players start thier career.

- Her only wish is not to be stabbed while playing tennis, like her idol Monica Seles

- She was voted top 30 swimsuit models of the year, by Sports Illustrated at a recent photo shoot event

- She is a UNICEF Ambassador for Serbia, meaning that

-She has been featured in many music videos, Serbian and Video Games, including Virtua Tennis 2009, and Smash Court Tennis 3

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