Ana Ivanovic will make a much welcomed comeback to the tennis tour in January 2010 in a fresh new adlibria Tennis look. The 22-year-old Serbian will step on the southern hemisphere courts in a core yellow, dropped waist dress that has been 18 months in the making.

More Fashion Company News – Germany

Fernando Verdasco plaatste zich afgelopen week in Parijs voor het eerst in zijn carrière voor de Masters Cup. Begin december speelt de 25-jarige Madrileen ook nog de Davis Cup-finale met Spanje tegen Tsjechië. Het was de eindstrijd van de landencompetitie in 2008 die de grote doorbraak van Verdasco inluidde. Tijd voor een interview met de man die op de Australian Open volgens John McEnroe ’een van de beste wedstrijden aller tijden’ speelde. 

Verdasco mikt in december opnieuw op Davis Cup-winst

Met zijn gebruinde, Zuid-Europese looks was Fernando Verdasco al langer een favoriet onder menig vrouwelijk tennisfan. Maar sinds eind vorig jaar valt Hot Sauce niet alleen meer op vanwege zijn uiterlijk en zijn relaties met bekendheden (Verdasco ging onder meer enkele maanden uit met Ana Ivanovic). Van een getalenteerde underachiever groeide Verdasco eerst uit tot held van zijn land, om vervolgens de harten van het mondiale tennispubliek te stelen met een schitterend toernooi op de Australian Open.

Onmogelijke opgave
Het leek een onmogelijke opgave. Spanje moest zonder de geblesseerde kopman Rafael Nadal afreizen naar Argentinië voor de Davis Cup-finale van 2008. Juan Martin del Potro en David Nalbandian waren de absolute sterren bij de Zuid-Amerikanen. Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez en de in een vormcrisis verkerende David Ferrer moesten de kar trekken voor de Spanjaarden, omdat ook Tommy Robredo ontbrak vanweg een blessure.

“Argentinië was favoriet, veruit favoriet”, weet ook Verdasco, destijds de nummer 17 van de wereld. “Dat maakte de uitdaging voor ons echter alleen maar groter om daar te winnen. Ook zonder Rafa hadden we een groot vertrouwen in ons team.”

Omdat de Argentijnen hadden gekozen voor een snelle indoorbaan in plaats van het gebruikelijke gravel – in de veronderstelling dat Nadal zou spelen voor Spanje – werd Verdasco gepasseerd voor de eerste enkelpartijen op vrijdag. De servicevolleyspecialist Feliciano Lopez kreeg de voorkeur, samen met de hoogst geklasseerde Spanjaard Ferrer.

Monden snoeren
Nadat Lopez met een verrassende overwinning op Del Potro op dag één de stand gelijk had getrokken, werd hij gekoppeld aan Verdasco in het dubbelspel, tegen Nalbandian en Agustin Calleri. “Ik speelde niet goed”, herinnert Verdasco. “Het moeilijkste moment kwam aan het einde van de eerste set. Op 5-5 begonnen de mensen te roepen dat ik bang was. We kwamen achter en vervolgens werd mijn servicegame gebroken. Ik liet me intimideren door de acties van het publiek en daardoor verloren we de set. Ik had nog nooit meegemaakt dat zoveel duizenden fans constant zaten te schreeuwen, ook tussen mijn eerste en tweede service. Het leek wel alsof we in een voetbalstadion waren. Na de eerste set werd ik wakker en besefte ik dat het tijd werd om al die monden maar eens te gaan snoeren.”

Verdasco eindigt 2009 voor het eerst in de top-10

Verdasco en Lopez wonnen het dubbelspel in vier sets, waardoor de Spanjaarden met 2-1 voorkwamen in de ontmoeting. In de vierde wedstrijd werd Verdasco de held van de bezoekers, door met een zege op Jose Acasuso, die de geblesseerde Del Potro verving, de finale te beslissen. Net als in het dubbelspel moest de linkshander zich terugknokken van een achterstand.

Acasuco nam een 2-1 voorsprong in sets, maar Verdasco trok alsnog de partij naar zich toe. De Argentijn kwam fysiek tekort aan het einde. “Op het moment dat ik de wedstrijd had beslist wist ik wel dat we de Davis Cup hadden gewonnen, maar je realiseert je niet wat voor reacties het teweeg brengt in Spanje. Die overwinning had een grote impact op m’n leven, omdat je later constant wordt herkend en er mensen op je afkomen om je te feliciteren met die prestatie. Het vertrouwen dat ik kreeg na die wedstrijden was ook enorm. Mentaal heeft heel die ervaring me een stuk sterker gemaakt. Die hele situatie met het publiek en natuurlijk de enorme druk die het spelen van een Davis Cup-finale met zich meebrengt.”

Geen wedstrijdspeler
Mentaliteit. Het is een sleutelwoord voor wie de speler Fernando Verdasco beschrijft. Jarenlang schommelde de man met de vlammende forehand rond de top-30 van de wereldranglijst en iedereen kon zien dat het talent daar was om verder door te groeien. Verdasco was daarentegen nooit een echte wedstrijdspeler, iemand die zijn beste tennis kon laten zien op de momenten dat het er om ging en een goed tactisch strijdplan had. De ervaringen uit de Davis Cup hebben hem daarin gesterkt, maar wat verder van grote invloed is geweest op zijn ontwikkeling zijn de trainingssessies met het Adidas Player Development Program (waar o.a. de Nederlandse coach Sven Groeneveld toe behoort).

Verdasco vertoefde in december in Las Vegas, waar hij werd afgebeuld door de voormalig fitnesscoach van Andre Agassi, Gil Reyes. “Zijn trainingen zijn zo gruwelijk. Ik heb nog nooit in mijn leven zo hard fysiek getraind. Natuurlijk maakte me dat sterker dan ooit.”

Sensatie
In de vorm van zijn leven verscheen hij de volgende maand op de Australian Open, waar hij met zijn verbeterde fysiek en het vertrouwen uit de Davis Cup-finale uitgroeide tot de sensatie van het toernooi. Nadat hij in de vierde ronde al Andy Murray, de voor velen grootste kanshebber op de titel, uit het toernooi had geslagen in vijf sets, trof Verdasco in de halve finales Nadal. Het leverde de mooiste partij van het tennisjaar en de langste wedstrijd uit de geschiedenis van de Australian Open op.

“Het niveau dat ik toen haalde over vijf uur en 15 minuten, dat heb ik uiteraard nog nooit eerder meegemaakt”, zegt Verdasco, die maar liefst 95 winners sloeg tegen zijn razendsnelle landgenoot. “Die wedstrijd was echt ongelofelijk. We speelden allebei zó goed en het zat zó dicht bij elkaar. Drie sets waren een tiebreak. That’s unbelievable, no?”, zegt hij met zijn typische Spaanse accent. Nadal won uiteindelijk slechts één punt meer dan Verdasco.

“Ik was natuurlijk zo verdrietig dat ik die wedstrijd verloor, zeker omdat ik eindigde met een dubbele fout, maar aan de andere kant was ik blij dat ik zo lang op dat niveau kon tennissen. Dat gaf me ook weer veel vertrouwen. Daar komt nog eens bij dat na afloop iedereen erover sprak dat onze wedstrijd een van de beste partijen aller tijden was. John McEnroe kwam me dat zelfs persoonlijk vertellen. Dat maakt me alleen maar trots op mezelf en motiveert me om in de toekomst nog meer van dit soort wedstrijden te spelen. En dan de volgende keer hopelijk te winnen”, lacht Verdasco.

Dit interview verscheen eerder in Tennis Magazine.

Foto’s © Niels de Water

Whatever you think of Venus and Serena Williams their dominance in the world of female tennis over the last ten years cannot really be disputed, remarkable considering their background and what they have had to contend with.

As another season drew to a close yesterday in Doha, the sisters contested yet another final against each other, their 22^nd to be exact, with Serena ending big sis Venus’ s reign to become the winner.

With this they helped to cement their place as not only two of the greatest players of their generation, but two of the greatest players of all time.

If you feel like the Williams’ have been around forever you would be right; Venus turned pro in 1994 and Serena in 1995.

But when they burst onto the scene in their brightly coloured, daring outfits and beaded hair many thought that their careers would be short lived.

Venus (right) and Serena (left) often play doubles together too (c) Galawebdesign 2009

Their array of other interests outside the tennis world has always been widely documented. Venus’s love of fashion and design and Serena’s passion for music and acting, many thought would have lured them away from the courts long before now.

However they are still here. And whatever the rankings may have been over the years, (Serena is currently placed at number one following her recent victories, Venus six) they have flown through most of the major tournaments uncontested.

All I can say is that scarily they could have potentially been even better if they had dedicated all their energy into the game.

Other Contenders

There were some Belgians who took charge for a bit but then retired. Perhaps their recent return to the game will once again add a new dynamic to the women’s game.  A dynamic which has certainly been much needed over the last couple of years.

There have been other challengers too, mainly from the East, to the Williams ascendency. Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and most recently Dinara Safina have all been privileged enough to hold the number one ranking spot over the years, only to be dethroned shortly after.

None have been more controversial than Safina, who has failed on countless occasions in the later stages of major tournaments to affirm her ability. It is baffling to many how on earth she managed to stay at the top for so long.

Not only have these girls not left an impression on the game, to me it seems as if they have also not had much of a lasting effect on the public.

Ok so many fans have not exactly become enamoured by the play or personality of the Williams sisters either, but at least people can remember their names and know what they look like.

The rest of the players have in the eyes of many merged into one. The average tennis fan would probably struggle to put a face to a Caroline Wozniacki or a Vera Zvonareva, just two of the other names in the ever changing women’s top ten.

Williams vs Williams

The final of the season ending tournament in Doha yesterday was another one of those sister against sister battles, where you wonder what on earth is going on in the minds of their nearest and dearest.

When it looked more and more likely that this year’s Wimbledon final would once again be between Venus and Serena, there were audible groans from some of my family members.

“Oh it’s not going to be them two again is it? Oh dear that’s boring! They don’t play each other properly” they said.

I argued to the contrary, getting quite fired up and argumentative as I do when I am interested in something, jumping to the defence of another all Williams final.

For one thing I don’t for a second believe the allegations of match fixing that have clouded any match they have ever played.

More importantly for me if it hadn’t been them, who else?  That’s when things would have got boring.

During this years’ Wimbledon I was literally sat on the edge of my seat as Serena fought back from the jaws of defeat to beat Elena Dementieva in the semi final.

I have nothing against Dementieva, but she is the nearly woman of female tennis. A Dementieva Williams final or one featuring Dinara Safina, even if she was ranked number one at the time, would not have had the same ring to it, and would probably have not gone down in the history books.

I can’t really argue that any of the Williams’ finals will go down in history for their great tennis, but they will always be memorable all the same.

In the future I imagine that the BBC pundits will sit in the studio talking about the great Williams Wimbledon era.

Venus is after all a five times winner, Serena a 3 times winner and much more impressively only one out of the last ten finals has not featured at least one of the sisters. The facts, as they say, speak for themselves.

So, it is generally accepted that both will enter the record books as two of the most successful female tennis players of all time. Little sister Serena is just in the lead in the sisters head to head with a 12-10 advantage at the moment. But it is for them to decide who will ultimately finish on top.

I hope they stick around for some while to come yet and we can continue to watch them making history. At least until some credible contenders come along to take over…

Hangisi daha güzel ?

Adidas Dress Word by Ana Ivanovic.

Like the cool, feminine dresses worn by Ana Ivanovic, with the mesh flying when she hits it hard? It’s called “Adilibria Dress”. You can find it at Tennis Warehouse, they carry it in light and dark purple. We prefer the dark one, as shown above.

And yes, for the record: here at Style Slam we truly believe that cool apparel makes you play – and feel – a lot better.

Ana Ivanovic is out of the top 20, photo from AnaIvanovic.com.

Ana Ivanovic is out of the top 20. Womenstennisblog report that she has fallen from 16 to 22 (read full post here) in the singles ranking.

We will miss her great tan and fabulous Adidas dresses (we still love the white one from Wimbledon 2008) in the top 20 – but we are sure she will be back in the top 10 in 2010.

What do you think, will Ana have a comeback?

Anci opened 2009 with a straight-set win over Petra Kvitova in Brisbane

She was already in my dreams and I giggled every time I think of her remarkable big forehand. Yesterday, I was reading the Q&A section in Anci’s website and geez, it is hard to believe we have lots of similarities.

This young and beautiful Serb, who was the champion of 2008 Roland Garros, loves music and yeah, her genre is R&B. I am addicted to Rhythm and Blues and it’s unbelievable my beloved tennis player listens to it before or after her match.

Question from Keisha: Hi Ana. I’ve heard that you like r&b. Do you like Rihanna?

Anci: Yes, she’s one of my favourite singers.

Ana Ivanovic also watch Jack Bauer in 24. Wow, I watch 24 too. I was glued to 24 from season one to five after it brought home the bacon for Best Drama Series in Emmy Awards on 2006.

One year ago, I took the “Who’s 24 Character Are You?” quiz in BuddyTV.com and the result is David Palmer. David Palmer was an African-American who played the president in season one and two and oh yeah, the 2008 Linz Open Champion digs for David Palmer.

You want proof? Here you go,

Question from Marco: I know you love the show 24. Who is your favourite character?

Anci: I really like the character President Palmer.

I don’t drink. Drinking liquor is not an unacceptable activity to those who want to have packs in their stomach (LOL) and yes, I was surprised Anci does not also drink.

Question from Deborah: Hi Ana , I’m sure that every player have their own way to celebrate a victory. What about you? How do you celebrate your victory? Good luck

Anci: I usually have a nice dinner with my team. I may have one glass of wine, but I am not a big drinker.

Hi Ana, I think you’re great on the tennis court. I wondered if you drink alcohol and like beer?

Anci: I almost never drink alcohol. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I am not really a good drinker. I would be drunk after just one beer! But very occasionally I will have a glass of wine or champagne.

Not to be forgotten, when Anci was interviewed by Elie Seckbach, a correspondent from Fanhouse, Anci admitted she wants to take up psychology if she’s going to school on a regular basis. I am much interested in psychology. My four years in school was one of the rockin’ and best moments and I am proud Anci wants to pursue psychology.

No doubt, Anci and I have numerous topics to talk about when we are together. Oh geez, I am having butterflies in my stomach while writing this post, hahaha. If possible, I just want to have a direct flight in Belgrade and run towards Anci to hug her tight.

Can I also kiss her? Anci was in a romantic relationship with Fernando Verdasco for three months and this man kissed her, why not I?

Please understand my insanity Adam Scott, kissing Anci satisfies my all.

I know, I know, I sound delusional in writing this post but who knows, love will always be a mystery.

And to those people who call my Anci a loser, you are more of a loser than her. Judging her is a big mistake and you are not Sven G, Darren Cahill, Craig Kardon or Scott Brynes, to decide whether or not she’s playing good enough. Folks, why can’t you simply see the positive sides of her weaknesses? Are you one of the richest people listed in Forbes? Anci is.

Anci already won a clay grand slam as a professional for just five years. She climbed the number one spot in womens tennis and stayed there for twelve weeks.

Just wait for her to come back. Once that level of confidence is under her control, it’s more than a huge party in womens tennis.

Ana Ivanovic: she’s not only the woman of beauty and talent, her life is also an inspiration everyone can look up to.

Anci is a SURVIVOR and I wonder if she is also watching SURVIVOR SERBIA.

Faptul că ne-au bătut sârbii cu 5-0 nu este grav doar fotbalistic, ci spune multe şi din punct de vedere uman. Veşnica noastră scuză atunci când pierdem cu reprezentativele unor ţări puternice este că noi nu ne putem compara cu ăia pentru că sunt ţări mari, foste imperii, au istorie, cine suntem noi?

Ei, uite că de data asta am întâlnit reprezentativa unei ţări de şapte milioane de oameni, lovită de nenumărate războaie, de sărăcie, ţară în afara UE. Şi cu toate acestea sârbii excelează la sport la toate capitolele, baschet, polo, naţionalele de juniori şi tineret de fotbal, ca să nu mai vorbim de tenis, unde Ana Ivanovic este, la 22 de ani, o fostă numărul unu, iar Novak Djokovic, un campion consacrat şi cu o carieră lungă în faţă. Noi spunem că sârbii sunt luptători şi-i vedem mai mereu pe tancuri cântând pe ritmurile lui Goran Bregovic, Kalashnikov, Kalashnikov! E adevărat că fac şi asta, dar nu asta le dă măsura spiritului războinic, entuziasmul euforico-artistic, ci mai degrabă vorba scurtă, un spirit colectiv dezvoltat, precum şi o anumită nonşalanţă care-i scuteşte de văicăreala în faţa vieţii, capitol la care noi suntem campioni. Bine, noi suntem campioni şi la partea îndemnurilor de luptă eroico-euforice, aici chiar îi întrecem pe sârbi, ne place şi nouă să bem ca apoi inima de iepure din pieptul nostru să devină neînfricată ca a unui leu. Însă, nouă ne cam lipseşte ceea ce sârbilor le prisoseşte, demnitatea gesturilor concrete şi nu a celor de paradă. Plus de asta, la noi, mentalitatea de curvă care se vinde în stânga şi-n dreapta după care ajunge codoaşă stăpână reprezintă tradiţie istorică. Aceasta este fişa morală a celor două popoare care bate şi fişa tehnică a meciului. În ceea ce priveşte sumarul tehnic al acestui meci, pentru noi el este unul cât se poate de scurt şi de sec, mai ceva decât vinul din şpriţurile lui Mutu. De fapt, prima acţiune contra Serbiei pe care au făcut-o ai noştri a fost prin Mutu pornit în tandem cu Adrian Cristea, supranumit şi “Prinţul”, şi a constat în consumul de vin roşu şi vodcă până la trei dimineaţa alături de păsări de noapte specifice pentru acea oră şi acel loc. A doua mişcare a lui Mutu, de data asta pe cont propriu, nu ştim dacă sub efectul primeia, a fost izbirea unui cot în figura marelui fundaş sârb şi la propriu, şi la figurat, Nemanja Vidici. Intrat în această acţiune prelungită, “Briliantul” a finalizat totul cu primirea unui cartonaş galben, care numai bine îl scuteşte de sosirea în ţară şi implicit de întrebările stânjenitoare ale ziariştilor. Pe deasupra îl scuteşte şi de un meci lipsit de vizibilitate internaţională, cel cu “pescarii” din Insulele Feroe, pentru că Mutu nu joacă cu oricine, el joacă doar în partide de top.

Nu e sigur că va mai avea ocazia să o facă, iar dacă selecţionerul va avea tăria de caracter necesară să renunţe la serviciile sale şi să nu se lase înduplecat de nimeni, atunci am putea spune că s-ar închide acest ciclu trist al generaţiei care n-a fost nici de aur, nici de tinichea, ci a fost generaţia mută a fotbalului nostru. Muţenia este cea care se lasă atunci când încerci să rememorezi performanţele acestei generaţii. Însă, nici viitorul nu sună bine, se va culege pleava în continuare pe care au produs-o patronii de cluburi şi şefii fotbalului românesc. Dar nu-i nimic că măcar de acum pot să înceapă iar dezbaterile, sportul nostru naţional, adică vorba lungă, care, ca şi-n politică, se dovedeşte a fi sărăcia unora şi bogăţia altora.

 http://www.crisana.ro/stiri/controverse-23/generatia-muta-85194.html

Linz

Draw here. 

Obviously Ana Ivanovic isn’t returning to defend her title, and neither is last year’s finalist Vera Zvonareva, but the draw isn’t half bad. Flavia Pennetta is the top seed, chasing a Doha spot, and should do well if she can negotiate a potential meeting with big-serving Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the second round and a possible quarterfinal against Sorana Cirstea (if neither Flavia nor Sorana make it to the quarters, I am going to be seriously annoyed). Yanina Wickmayer has been wildcarded in as the third seed, and has a good shot, with sporadically tricky Sara Errani probably waiting in the quarters.

In the bottom half of the draw, it’s a bit more open, with Agnieszka Radwanska the only reliable seed (and she is coming off strong Tokyo and Beijing showings, if she even plays). Benesova will have to contend with either compatriot Petra Kvitova or horse-faced Petkovic in the second round, and I think Govortsova will probably make the quarters over the winner of Srebotnik and Suarez Navarro. Radwanska’s quarter is populated with unpredictable ladies including Urszula Radwanska, Lucie Safarova and Alize Cornet. Hope we get a quarterfinal which decides once and for all (again) just who is the Raddest ‘wanska.

For the title … who knows? Let’s say Flavia.

Osaka 

Draw here.

Another good draw. Defending champion Wozniacki returns as the top seed and, although she’s been in a bad way of late with all her tennis finally catching up to her, she shouldn’t have any problems before a probable meeting with Aleksandra Wozniak in the quarters. (Look out for token Tim Katie O’Brien losing to Alexa Glatch in the first round!). If Wozniacki does lose before the quarters, I should imagine it will be to Glatch, who is looking for a Fed Cup final spot. Sam Stosur and Yaroslava Shvedova anchor the second quarter and it’ll be interesting to see whether Peng Shuai can keep up her momentum from Beijing by unseating predictably unpredictable Stosur. And check out the creaky and all-round aged first round between Date Krumm and Craybas.

In the bottom half, Czink and Schiavone should meet in the quarters as both have a soft draw, while the final quarter is a bit more fun; Shahar Peer and Marion Bartoli, with Sania Mirza, Maria Kirilenko and Galina Voskoboeva. As for the winner, I’m feeling Bartoli, so look for her to lose in the first round.

Dinara Safina Reacts (Getty Images)

What a year 2009 has been for Dinara Safina. She gets smoked in the Australian Open final by Serena Williams, and despite a decent clay court season, chokes in the French Open final to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Then Safina got smoked again by Venus Williams at Wimbledon, then went on the “magical misery tour” this summer on the hard courts culminating in an early round loss at the U.S Open.

But Safina wasn’t done as she wanted to end the year in real style. Yesterday Safina posted the worst loss ever by a ranking number one player when she lost to 226th ranked Zhang Shuai at the China Open. The previous honor went to Julie Coin’s shocking second round defeat of then number one Ana Ivanovic at the U.S. Open last year. And we all know what happened after that.

If Serena Williams wins her match tomorrow she will regain the number one ranking which many have felt was hers all year. But Safina’s loss has increased calls for the WTA to change its rankings system again.

Personally I don’t think that needs to happen as the current system rewards consistency and playing many events which Safina had been doing. It’s one thing for Safina to lose it mentally in big finals where she felt the pressure to win a Slam, but these recent early round losses point to a larger problem that Safina needs to fix quickly.

So my advice for Safina? Do like Ana Ivanovic and take the rest of the year off, find a nice secluded place and start chanting — nam myoho renge kyo nam myoho renge kyo….

What do you think about all this? Take the poll and let us know.

I guess having to withdraw from Beijing is an appropriate ending to a very disappointing season.  This trip to Asia has been a big disappointment and I have struggled with my health pretty much since I arrived.  I am sorry to my supporters who were hoping to see me play here in Beijing.  It’s very disappointing for me as well, to come here, see the amazing facility they have and not have the energy to be able to step onto court.  I can only look forward to coming back here next year.

It’s especially disappointing because I was hoping to be able to see some improvements before the season ended. I have gone through a lot of training and physical changes over the past few months, which have mostly remained private until now… My body is quite fragile at the moment, because I over-trained during the first part of the year.  This was, I think, what caused me to have many small injuries this season. Read complete statement here

Yesterday I went 0-2 in the NFL and two bets that I felt fairly confident in. Tony Romo seemed to have Carrie Underwood on his mind and I took a huge bad beat in the Sunday nighter were 31 points were magically scored in the 4th for the game to go over.

Regardless, even if I won those were bets that were decided by one play or a fluke occurrence. Compare that to my NCAA hits, that usually hit by two touchdowns or more. Its not the losses that kill me, but how I loss. I went on a 3-17 streak in NCAA Ball and had a couple bad MLB losing weeks this season, but I still like those sports.

Brandon Marshall TD that basically loss my bet

So four weeks into the NFL season I am doing what Ana Ivanovic does in Tennis and calling it quits. I just don’t have what it takes in the NFL. I’m not saying that I won’t make anymore bets, but I just won’t focus as hard. And the bets I do make will be plays taking from other people.

Basically I don’t want to put an once of work into the NFL. It is taking away my focus from College Football and cut into my profits from baseball

I will put all my attention towards NCAA Football and prep up for NCAA Basketball. I will also take the odd soccer bet and cap NHL everyday, but will only make a play when one of my picks matches up with Winnipeg Mark

That is all for today

A bit like shooting Old Yeller or whatever, isn’t it? Ana Ivanovic has withdrawn from Beijing due to an upper respiratory tract infection and officially called time on her 2009 season. Which has, let’s face it, been one to forget. She hasn’t won a single title; only been beyond the quarter-finals at one tournament (Indian Wells, where she lost to Zvonareva in that windy final); and while she’s made it to the round of 16 at two Slams (Wimbledon and the French Open, losing to Venus and Victoria Azarenka respectively), that’s poor by anyone’s standards when you consider that she was actually no. 1 last year. God, remember that?

She explains her decision on her official website:

I guess having to withdraw from Beijing is an appropriate ending to a very disappointing season. This trip to Asia has been a big disappointment and I have struggled with my health pretty much since I arrived. I am sorry to my supporters who were hoping to see me play here in Beijing. It’s very disappointing for me as well, to come here, see the amazing facility they have and not have the energy to be able to step onto court. I can only look forward to coming back here next year.

It’s especially disappointing because I was hoping to be able to see some improvements before the season ended. I have gone through a lot of training and physical changes over the past few months, which have mostly remained private until now… My body is quite fragile at the moment, because I over-trained during the first part of the year. This was, I think, what caused me to have many small injuries this season.

Instead of being patient and accepting that my best form was almost impossible due to physical limitations, I was always over-thinking things, and I never dealt with it very well. The season was a continuation of going from one disappointment to another. If I had dealt better with these setbacks, I would have had a lot more success.

I also found it very tough to switch off and have a proper break over the past year or so, partly because of these physical problems. Actually, I don’t think I can remember the last time I had a proper holiday: I was always doing some kind of fitness or recovery work during my holidays, and that meant that I wasn’t able to switch off from tennis. I guess I just want it so badly.

As you may have noticed, I completely changed my serve after Wimbledon. This was because of my shoulder: if I continued serving and training the way I was, I would have almost certainly picked up a serious injury. My team and I are confident that I will be able to go back to my old service motion when I start practising again in November.

On the positive side, I am still No.11 in the world. I have no clue how I am ranked so highly, but to look on the bright side, I can’t play any worse than I did this year and I’m still in the top 20!

I’ve learnt so much this year. It’s a bit little bit like a few years ago, when I was ranked around No.14 for almost an entire year, and many people were asking me, “when are you going to reach the top 10?” Within a year I was there, and within two years I was No.1. Sometimes you have to go through these experiences in order to become a better player.

Despite my disappointments there is not a single doubt in my mind that I will reach the top again and win Grand Slams.

One other positive to come out of all this is that I realised what a great team I have around me: they never doubted me, they supported me so well and did everything they could to assist me. I am very grateful to them all: my family, coaches and management.

I have appointed a new fitness coach, whom I will tell you more about later. Over the next month or so I can have a great break. I can rest without thinking about any future tournaments, then train and practise hard for the new season.

I have a lot to look forward to. Now is the time to rest, recharge, and come back stronger.

Love
Ana

P.S. I’d like to thank my loyal supporters for their encouragement this year. The journey is never easy!

I do love the serious and thoughtful way in which she explains herself. And frankly, if she needs to take a month off before the off-season even starts, then more power to her. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Ana (that would be C Note) but it’s far from pleasant seeing any talented player slump like she has this year. Let’s face it, she is such a marketable (read: pretty) player that she’s going to be shoved down your throat in photoshoots and so forth whether her results justify it or not, and having her firing on all or even most cylinders would be a big boon for the WTA and add to the fun at the top. She’s immensely watchable when she’s playing well, and wouldn’t it be great if after 3,000,0000 fistpumps, she actually came away with a win?

So write off 2009 and come back strong in 2010, Ana. You’re so much less irritating when you’re playing well.

Are TPTB at the China Open kidding me right now? None of their photography staff can frame photos? Are these supposed to be BTS stuff? I’m pretty sure Ana Ivanovic got all dolled up for an actual photo shoot session and not just because she wants to sit in the heat in a red dress for a meeting with the media and get photographed by a sports photog from Getty (no offense super shooter). I can’t figure out the Chinese characters on the website but when I found these photos I just became more confused.

My thoughts exactly. If anyone knows what’s going on there, please enlighten me.

Anyway, go win a match and show them that you deserve better, Ana.

Images via China Open

Here’s a recap in my first four weeks betting college football and its been pretty good so far, but got careless in week 3.

Oh ya the Ana Ivanovic pics above have nothing to do with college football, but dam she lost a lot of weight. I like her chubbier

Week 1
3-1 +352.50

North Texas +16 1 unit
WON 100.00

North Texas ML +525 0.5 units (my first ever pick in college football
WON 262.50

Stanford -16½ -110 for Game swine flu angle
WON 100.00

Virginia Tech +6
LOSS 110.00

Good start to the year and actually was waiting to make the Stanford and North Texas bets since early August when they released the lines. All based on my redshirt freshman QB angle as written here (by me) at covers.com. Stanford bet was helped with Washington State getting the swine flu.

Virginia Tech bet was for action because it was the feature game on Saturday night. This loss with teach me a lesson in separating “action” bets from “actual” bets

Week 2
1-0-1 +100.00

LSU -14 1 unit
PUSH

North Texas +3 1 unit
WON 100.00

Riley Dodge got injured in the North Texas game and almost didn’t cover, and LSU pushed after a sloppy game versus Vandy. Got lucky this week, both were bad picks

Had a lean on TCU that hit, regret not betting it

Week 3
2-3 -180.00

Nevada -3
LOSS 110.00

Was confident in this pick as I felt that their opening day shutout loss to Notre Dame was fluke. But dam this team sucks, losing 35-20 to Colorado State. Line got pushed to -5 too.

Oregon State +1
LOSS 110.00

Didn’t think Cincinnati was the real deal and probably should’ve backed off with Oregon State’s running back playing hurt.

WVU/AUB over 54
WON 100.00

Regret not betting the over in all of Auburn’s games. New Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn came over from Tulsa and has turned around Auburn’s offensive woes. They beat West Virginia 41-30 killing the total. The Tigers are currently 4-0 in over unders.

USC 1stH -12
LOSS 110.00

Such a homer pick. This bet would’ve hit, but Bates (the playcaller for USC) calls boring plays, doesn’t know how to use Joe McKnight and the talent around him. USC not the same without Norm Chow

Miss St +8.5
WON 50.00

had early lean on Miss ST ML too, which one of my friend took. But I was so confident in my Nevada pick that I was hesitant here. Big regret.

Action bets were on Boise, Miami, and Tennessee. All three hit, but I just wasn’t that confident in them. My reads were all wrong this week.

Week 4
3-1 +190.00

Mississippi -4
LOSS 110.00

TCU/Clemson under 40½
WON 100.00

Florida -20
WON 100.00

San Jose State -6
WON 100.00

Great bounce back from week 3. TCU under bet I waited all week for and Florida was clutch and think the public got over paranoid about the flu effect. Ole Miss was a sloppy pick though and that game should have been avoided completly.

Wish I took Iowa ML which I talked about in my covers.com game of the day write up

Overall 9-5-1 63% +462.50

ATS 6-4-1 +110.00
ML 1-0 +262.50
O/U 2-0 +200.00
1st H ATS 0-1 -110.00