Serbian Ana Ivanovic, former world number one and 2008 Roland Garros champion, has pointed out that reaching the top of the world ranking “was not her dream” and that at some point he did not get to enjoy that position.
This is how Ivanovic was dispatched in statements during the Eurosport program “Hanging out with Babsi”, where he clarifies that at that time it was intense, but something changed inside.
“I was 20 years old when I won a Grand Slam and then I became number one. At that moment, everything changes, from the pure joy of training and the joy of competition until you suddenly have to win or you will no longer be number one, “he said.
“I didn't like that, I just wanted to play tennis which is what I love. I was in the spotlight. Getting to number one was not my dream, my dream was to play tennis, enjoy it and win matches and tournaments. It was a little difficult to adapt to that, “he said.
Ivanovic remembered how that was period in which he coincided with his compatriot Novak Djokovic and they became very close friends.
“We grew up together in Serbia and started playing tennis at similar times, me a year later. Then we reached the age of 10 or 11 and played many small tournaments in Serbia. Later on the tour we became very close friends. Over the years he had his own path and I had mine, but what he has achieved is truly amazing, “he said.
Ana noted that one of her toughest rivals at the beginning was the Swiss Patty Schnyder. “I will never forget those duels. I remember Berlin in a quarterfinal match. I always had incredible battles against Svetlana Kuznetsova too. But throughout my career the most difficult rival to face was Karolina Pliskova, “he said.
He did not hesitate about the match he would like to repeat. “I would like to repeat the Australian Open final against Sharapova in 2008. It was a very tight first set, 4-4, and 30-30, and she was serving. I lost a point on a drop, I got upset, I lost set 7-5 I think. “
“I couldn't let that point pass in my head. Normally you forget and go ahead and go to the next point, but somehow I couldn't forget that point. I was playing so well in that tournament, I would probably like to play it again, “he said wistfully.