Ana Ivanovic is one of the leading female tennis players of present day. The world no. 5 Ivanovic is still 21, but has already showed her tennis talent and skill to the tennis world. Her journey to become a tennis player went through many difficult stages and at time, Ivanovic was disappointed too. However, with her willpower, determination and mental strength, Ana Ivanovic got over all the difficulties and reached her goal to become a successful professional tennis player. Ana Ivanovic can easily become an idol of many young players who aspire to become a successful sportsman/ sportswoman in future. Here, I made a list of 50 things that you might like to know about this Serbian tennis star. So, enjoy the information about Ana Ivanovic here:
Personal
1. Ana Ivanovic was born on November 6, 1987 at Belgrade, Serbia (previously Yugoslavia). Her height is 1.84 m (6 feet 1⁄2 inch) and weight is 69 kg (150 lb).
2. Mother Dragana is a lawyer by profession and travels with Ana Ivanovic around the world from one tournament to another. Ana Ivanovic’s father Miroslav is a self-employed businessman. He tries to attend as many Ivanovic’s matches as possible.
3. Ivanovic has a brother, Milos, who is 4 years younger to her and plays basketball. The Serbian tennis has comes from a sports-loving family. Her uncle is a former football player. However, Ana Ivanovic is the first tennis player from her family.
4. Fellow Serbian male tennis player and current world no. 3 of ATP ranking, Novak Djokovic, was Ana Ivanovic’s friend since she was 5.
5. In November 2008, Ana Ivanovic admitted that she was dating with Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco who was part of Spain’s Davis Cup 2008 winning team. Reports have it in the media that, Ivanovic and Verdasco spent time together in her luxurious villa in Mallorca which Ivanovic bought in 2008.
6. Ana Ivanovic can speak fluent English, Serbian and a little bit of Spanish.
What Ana Ivanovic Likes and Her Hobbies
7. Ana Ivanovic does not have inclination for any tennis surface. In fact, Ivanovic likes all surfaces.
8. Ana Ivanovic loves watching movies (thrillers in particular). She likes to play basketball with her younger brother Milos.
9. Ivanovic also enjoys reading books. She is a big fan of music and likes listening to music (Pop and R&B in particular). During a break from Wimbledon 2007, Ana Ivanovic attended Princess Diana Memorial Concert in England.
10. Playing Sudoku is one of her favorite hobbies. In fact, she sometimes prepares herself for tennis matches playing Sudoku in her locker room before the match.
11. Besides these, Ivanovic has attraction for shopping and fashion. Ivanovic’s favorite television shows include 24, Lost and Prison Break.
12. Ana Ivanovic has strong appetite for sushi (a Japanese food). Water and fresh orange juice are her favorite drinks.
13. Ivanovic likes to visit Melbourne as some of her family members reside over there. She also likes to travel Mallorca, Paris and Rome.
14. For the support she received from her family in becoming a successful tennis player, Ana Ivanovic admires her family.
15. Ivanovic never walks on the lines of the court as it is her superstition.
Playing Style
16. Ana Ivanovic is a right-handed player and her best tennis shot is forehand.
17. Ivanovic’s serve, reaching up to 125 miles per hour, is one of the fastest serves in women’s tennis at this moment. She is very fast on the court as she got a pair of speedy feet.
18. In order to keep pressure off her shoulder, Ana Ivanovic always thinks about point by point; in stead of a set. This helps her remain calm and poised on the court.
Education
19. Ana Ivanovic is the student of Finance at a private university in Belgrade, Serbia.
20. She got admitted at the university in September 2007. The university allows her to appear in the exams online. Besides playing tennis and studying Finance, she also learns Spanish language.
Career
21. Ana Ivanovic aspired to become a tennis player watching tennis legend Monica Seles play on television at the age of 5.
22. Ivanovic picked up a tennis racket, which she received as a gift for her fifth birthday, for the first time. That was start of her long journey to make her dream of becoming a tennis player true.
23. When Ana Ivanovic was 5, one day she watched a television advertisement of a local tennis club, and in no time, she memorized the phone no. and gave it to her parents, convincing them to contact with the club.
24. Ana Ivanovic had to struggle hard to fulfill her dream to become a professional tennis player in her childhood. She had to practice in a swimming pool during winter season because there was no other place to play. During NATO bombings in 1999 in Serbia, Ivanovic had to practice in the morning to avoid bombings when she was only 12.
25. Ana Ivanovic switched to Switzerland at the age of 15 looking for better guidance and training. Ivanovic was sponsored by her current manager Dan Holzmann at that time.
26. After losing the first match under new manager Dan Holzmann, Ivanovic cried for four hours in her locker room, fearing that Holzmann would terminate her sponsorship and drop her from his guidance.
27. Ana Ivanovic turned professional on 17 August 2003. Ivanovic has 1 grand slam singles title (French Open 2008), 8 WTA singles titles and 5 ITF singles titles to her credit so far (6 January 2009) in her career.
28. Ivanovic’s first appearance on ITF circuit was in Luxembourg qualifying in 2003, the year Ivanovic started playing professional tennis.
29. Ana Ivanovic came into limelight reaching the final of Junior Wimbledon 2004 tournament where she was defeated by Kateryna Bondarenko. The year 2004 was a breakthrough year for the Serbian star who finished the year 26-0 on ITF circuit, winning all of the five ITF tournaments she participated that year.
30. For her excellent performance on the court in 2004, Ana Ivanovic moved into top 100 for the first time, finishing 97 in WTA ranking.
31. Ivanovic continued improving her performance on the court in 2005, winning her first ever WTA singles title in Canberra, Australia, even though she entered in the tournament as a qualifier. Thus, she broke into top 20 in WTA ranking for the first time in 2005.
32. Ivanovic also finished in top 20 in 2006, clinching her second tour singles title at Montreal, Canada, defeating former world no. 1 Martina Hingis in the final. Partnering with Maria Kirilenko, Ivanovic reached the final of a WTA doubles tournament at ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; and thus achieving her highest ever WTA doubles ranking 50 on September 25, 2006.
33. The Serbian starlet won three WTA tour singles tiles in 2007; first at Berlin, Germany, then at Los Angeles, California, U.S. and at last in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Moreover, Ana Ivanovic also reached her first grand slam final at French Open 2007, but lost to no. 1 seed Justine Henin 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
34. Because of her excellent on-court performances, Ivanovic first entered into top 5 of WTA ranking in 2007.
35. Ivanovic won her first grand slam singles title at French Open 2008, defeating Dinara Safina in straight set 6–4, 6–3 in the final. Winning the French Open 2008 title, Ana Ivanovic has become the first Serbian female tennis player to win a grand slam singles title.
36. On her way to reach the French Open 2008 final, the Serbian star knocked out 10th seed Patty Schnyder in the quarter final and 3rd seed Jelena Jankovic in the semi final. Defeating fellow Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the French Open 2008 semi final, Ana Ivanovic confirmed her move at the top of the WTA ranking.
37. On June 9, 2008, Ana Ivanovic became world no. 1 in WTA ranking, replacing former world no. 1 Maria Sharapova.
38. Ana Ivanovic earned $6,284,797 as prize money so far (6 January 2009) in her career.
Awards, Achievements and Honors
39. Ana Ivanovic was the runner-up of 2004 Junior Wimbledon tournament, losing to K. Bondarenko in the final. This was her fist major success on professional circuit.
40. She was awarded Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Most Improved Player on two occasions in 2005 and 2007. Ivanovic was the champion of US Open Series 2006.
41. Ana Ivanovic became UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia (specializing in child safety in schools) in September 2007.
42. In 2007, she was nominated for U.S. Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. The same year, she received Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Karen Krantzcke Sportmanship Award 2007.
43. Ivanovic was awarded AIPS (International Sports Press Association) Women’s Tennis Player of the Year 2008.
44. Ana Ivanovic also received Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Diamond ACES Award in 2008 for her promotional activities off the court. She also received German Tennis Magazine’s Michael Westphal Award the same year.
45. In July 2006, Ana Ivanovic, along with Hantuchova, appeared in Sony Ericsson’s first ever tennis-based television commercial, ‘Never Miss A Shot’. Just before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, she was also featured on a postage stamp in her native country. The value of the stamp is 40 dinars.
46. Some of the most popular magazines in the world: Vogue, ELLE, Cosmopolitan and TIME Magazine- featured Ana Ivanovic for her success both on and off the court.
47. On November 10, 2008, www.alexa.com announced that, Ana Ivanovic’s personal website (www.anaivanovic.com) has become the most-visited website of any sportswoman in the world.
48. Srebian president Boris Tadic was present in Ana Ivanovic’s 20th birthday party.
Endorsement and Equipment
49. At the beginning of her tennis career, Ana Ivanovic started endorsing Nike apparel and shoes, but later on moved to Nike’s rival Addidas. Initially, she stated playing with Wilson HTour racquet, but Ana Ivanovic is currently using Yonex RQiS 1 Tour XL 95 racquet.
50. In July 2007, Ivanovic signed a three-year endorsement contract with Verano Motors, who distributes Peugeot automobiles in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia. In May 2008, she had a deal signed with Swiss watchmaker Rolex. Ivanovic also endorses for Yonex and Juice PLUS+.
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