Ana Ivanovic Begins 2012 With a Plan

Written by: Staff on 18th January 2012

Ana Ivanovic Begins 2012 With a Plan

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia hits a shot during the men's singles match against Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain during the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2012. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI |

Ana Ivanovic ended last season by retaining her Tournament of Champions title, and then immediately began planning for 2012. After she dropped just three games in winning her first round at the Australian Open she revealed her ambitions for the year.

“Before I started my pre-season, I sat down with Nigel (Sears, her coach) and we had a really good talk about our goals, targets, what we want to achieve. I think it’s important to have that plan, you know, how you’re going to get there. I mean, definitely I want to get back to top 10 and competing in the (WTA) Championships at the end of the year. It’s a long road, a lot of tennis to be played. I just want to also enjoy the process a little because it still is a long year.”

Something that has held her back in the past is her lack of consistency, and that is something she addressing. She’s going to a little more patient.

“I always felt, you know, I could play great match, upset a top player. But I want to get it happening consistently,” she said. “Not only through the week, but week after week.

You know, that’s what I worked a lot on the off-season, the base game, get it to certain level, now working on, you know, raising it.

“But also, you know, my game, I’m developing also as a player. You know, there is going to be changes and adjustments. I think I’m a lot more patient now than I was when I first started on tour. I was taking way more risk. But, you know, it’s evolving and it’s exciting.”