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Ivanovic’s “Really, Really Close” Encounter

World number one Ana Ivanovic had a thriller of a Wimbledon 2008 match on Tuesday against Nathalie Dechy but survived to claim a 6-7 7-6 10-8 win.

Ivanovic, who won the 2008 French Open, survived two match points in this Wimbledon 2008 second round battle- how close is that! One of those points was an extremely close net cord. This Wimbledon 2008 match between the Serb and the French lady was by no means a pretty one, but it definatley kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Ivanovic gave it her all and did a wonderful come-back job to beat Dechy. With sheer persistance and extreme concentration, the top-seed pulled off an extremely narrow victory.

“It was really, really close and only a few balls decided it,” she told BBC television.

Ivanovic, some how, survived 2 match pionts and said she was extremely lucky and that she could actually not believe it herself. After the close encounter, Dechy and Ivanovic were given a standing ovation by the exhausted Wimbledon 2008 crowd.

“I was really happy I managed to stay calm…It was an amazing match.” Ivanovic did an amazing job to start the first set with a 3-0 lead, but when she lost her serve twice, Dechy faught back and won the tiebreak 7-2.

Dechy gave an awesome display of action packed tennis, which no one thought was possible from a 97th ranked tennis player.

In the second set, Dechy displayed another come back performance, when she levelled the match after Ivanovic started a lead of 4-1. Dech even had 2 match points at 5-4 but the World Number one held her nerve to land the tiebreak 7-3.

If the previous two sets were ‘nail-biters’, then the third set was ‘arm-biters’. Ivanovic started with a 4-2 lead but Dechy crawled back to make it 5-5. Dachy managed to overcome 2 match points at 6-5 before finally falling at 10-8. What a Wimbledon 2008 match… Read the rest of this entry »

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Ana Ivanovic is confident that she will win Wimbledon 2008. When former world number one Henin retired in May (and surprised everyone, because she is just 25 years old) many tennis fans were wondering if Ivanovic would be the rightful heir to the thrown- but after winning the French Open, Ivanovic proved she definately is.

But Wimbledon 2008 could change all that.

Ivanovic, from Serbia, won her first Grand Slam tournament with a victory at French Open and gainned experience that will be vital for her to win at Wimbledon.

“You just have to make sure you keep doing the right things on the court and play your matches and the rankings, they take care of themselves,” Ivanovic said when she beat Russia’s Dinara Safina at the French Open to win her first Grand Slam Title.

“I think I have a good chance (of winning Wimbledon 2008),” said Ivanovic, who lost to eventual champion Venus Williams in the semifinals last year. “I’ve been working really hard and this hard work gives results.”

Tennis Experts believe that Ana Ivanovic should make it to the Wimbledon 2008 quarterfinals with ease- but what happens after that, is no ones guess. She will be facing Serena Williams or Venus Williams. No easy task. Venus has won Wimbledon four times and Serena twice. While the Williams’ sisters gave dismal performances at Roland Garros, they will want to proof themselves once again.

Even if Ivanovic can beat a Williams sister, she is then seeded to face Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova or Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon 2008 semifinals. Sharapova has a Wimbledon title under her belt and nothing would give her greater pleasure than to win her second Wimbledon title in Wimbledon 2008.

“My chances are just as good as everybody’s, it’s all about who takes their chances,” said Sharapova, who has chosen to stay away from the warm-up events before her Wimbledon tilt.

Wimbledon 2008 starts on Monday the 23 June. The Wimbledon Mens Final will be played on 6 June 2008 and the Wimbledon Ladies Final on the 5 June 2008. Leave us a comment on who you think will win? Wimbledon 2008, brough to you by MyWimbledon2008- Latest Wimbledon 2008 scores, Wimbledon Final Results, Wimbledon 2008 dates, Wimbledon 2008 Fixtures and more.

* Read the rest of this entry »

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Name: Ana Ivanovic

Country:Serbia

Date of Birth: 1987, 6 November

Place of Birth: Belgrade, Serbia

Height:1.83 m

Weight: 73.2 kg

Current Rank:1

Career Titles (Single):7

Career Titles (Doubles):0

Matches won:148

Matches Lost:59

Career Prize Cash: $5.6 million

Grand Slam Wins:French Open (2008)

Year Turned Pro:2003

Plays: Right Handed

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French Open 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic has replaced Maria Sharapova as the Wolrd no 1, according to the WTA Tour Rankings.

Ivanovic is from Serbi.

When Ivanovic entered the french open 2008, she was no 2, but has now overtaken Sharapova, who lost in the fourth round.

“Being No. 1 now holds more pressure,” Ivanovic said after winning French Open 2008. “But you’re also a professional athlete, and if you want to achieve your goals, you have to learn how to handle the pressure.”

Maria Sharapova is now the World No. 2,

French Open champion Rafael Nadal, is World No. 2 in the male rankings, while Roger Federer remains Wolrd no 1.

Wimbledon 2008 will be a great challenge to all the players who are in the top 10. Wimbledon 2008 tickets will be going fast so be sure to get yours now. Wimbledon 2008 updates are available from www.mywimbledon2008.com

Wimbledon 2008 tickets as well as Federer tickets are sure to be going fast, so dont delay.

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It has been said that the likes of Maria Sharapova or Ana Ivanovic to win the French Open 2008.

But  Serena Williams believes this could be the year she adds a second Roland Garros crown to the one she won in the final against sister Venus in 2002.

Still only 26 years old despite having been in the spotlight for a decade, Williams was bubbling with confidence when she met the press ahead of Sunday’s kick-off to the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

“It’s probably the best preparation I’ve had since 2002. I feel like I’ve played so many clay court tournaments,” the American former world No. 1 said.

“I just really am feeling like a real clay court player, which, I think, is important for me. I’m really comfortable out there on the clay, so it’s great.”The younger of the Williams sisters is just one of the potential story-lines in what is gearing up to be one of the most unpredictable women’s tournaments in Paris in years.

Henin, had she competed, would once again have been the hot favorite having won the last three straight in Paris.

But her shock retirement announcement last week has suddenly opened the doors for a number of players.

Sharapova is the new world No.1 and freely admits that the slow clay surface of Roland Garros is not her favourite surface, but she is dismissive of those who say that she can never win in Paris as she has already done at Wimbledon and at the US and Australian Opens.

“To be quite honest, it’s quite amazing to be 21 years old and have somebody tell you that it’s the only Grand Slam that you not haven’t won,” she said.

“Coming here last year I knew that this was one of the two I haven’t won, And coming in this year it’s the one that I haven’t won.

“I’ve always said it. It’s the toughest one - it’s always going to be in my career, to win. But that’s why I’m here. I’ve said it every single year. I love the challenges.

“When someone puts something in front of the line, that challenge in front of me, I’m hungry to go and try to achieve that challenge.”

Sharapova’s win in the Australian Open in January came in the final at the expense of Serbia’s rising Ana Ivanovic, six months her junior and bent on usurping the Russian’s crown.

But while she clearly has the raw talent, there remains a question mark over her resolve and mental fortitude on the big occasions.

This was showcased in last year’s final when she collapsed to an embarrassing 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Henin after breaking the Belgian’s serve in the opening game and going 40-0 up on her own serve only for one dodgy toss up to derail her.

“It just hit me where I was in that single moment as I tossed the ball up to serve,” she said.

“I started to think ‘Oh, my God, don’t panic now’ and the more I thought about it the more I panicked.

“You just don’t know if it will happen again, but I will definitely know how to deal with it better.”

That leaves the rest of the Russian brigade with any of 2006 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2004 runner-up Elena Dementieva, Anna Chakvetadze or Vera Zvonareva capable of mounting a challenge.

Hopes of a first French win on home soil since Mary Pierce in 2000 look dim.

Amelie Mauresmo looks set to be in a downward spiral and will be lucky to make it past the first week, Marion Bartoli is not at her best on clay and last week’s surprise Italian Open finalist Alize Cornet is still too tender at just 18.

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