Ana becomes No. 1
Ana Ivanovic has become the world’s player number one. The youngster from Belgrade managed to overcome Jankovic in an all-Serbian semi-final with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 win, after 135 minutes of play. The win and the place in the Saturday’s final match have earned Ivanovic the number one WTA position, regardless of the outcome of the final match against Dinara Safina of Russia.
The clash of top two Serbs was marked by numerous turns, ups and downs from both players, but also by memorable top-drawer shots and tactical displays. Ivanovic will play her third Grand Slam final in Paris, and as of Monday next week officially be promoted into the player number one of the WTA rankings list, which will bring her a $10m bonus.
- “It was an incredibly tough match to play, with a lot ups and downs for both of us. I’m happy I managed to remain composed and beat a world-class player like Jelena. After I took the initial 1-0 set lead, she started playing really well, while I was too passive on the other end. Jelena used that to her advantage. I have a tough match ahead in the final against Dinara Safina, who will no doubt do everything to get her hands on her first ever Grand Slam, just like I will. I have a day’s rest and use it to prepare as best as I can for the final,” Ivanovic said after the match.
Jankovic opened the match well, took a 3-0 lead after saving three break points in the third game. At 4-2 for Jankovic, Ana raised her game to turn the set and win four consecutive games with emphatic forehand shots and an odd backhand winner. Jelena was left without a single window of opportunity to pounce on and saw her compatriot come to a one set lead.
The second set mirrored the scenario of the opening ten games, but this time it was Jankovic who came out on top. First, Ivanovic won the first game by breaking Jankovic. Jelena then took the bandage that read “I love Paris” from her right arm, but it changed nothing and Ana was two games up. Having taken off the bandages from her injured elbow, Jankovic pressed her opponent hard to halve the lead to 2-1. What followed was rarely seen remarkable tennis display. Both players stuck to their serve games – 3-2 for Ivanovic. The number one Serb was 40-0 up in the sixth game and had three opportunities to come to a more considerable advantage, but Jankovic recuperated and levelled the score to 3-3. The incredible game gave Jankovic the mental edge and the number three seed brought out the big guns against Ivanovic and went on to win three straight games to take the semi-final into the deciding set.
Jankovic continued to dominate in the third set and immediately stretched her run to win the first two games. Ivanovic managed to break the her deadlock and narrow the gap to 1-2. However, Jelena would not back down and restored the two-game lead in the decider, before the 2007 French Open finalist turned the tide to level at 3-3. Then both players came to a break, while Ivanovic made as many as four winners at her opponent’s serve. Ivanovic’s racquet strings snapped for a second time during the match, and Ivanovic took a 5-4 advantage. Ivanovic then made her final push for the win in the semis and returned Jankovic’s serve at 30-40 and 5-4. After two hours and fifteen minutes, Ivanovic clinched the nerve-wrecking encounter with a 2-1 overall win.
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