TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 19th of January 2015. L. Hradecka d. A. Ivanovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. An interview with Ana Ivanovic
Q. Obviously a very good start for you in the match. What do you think sort of changed or got away from you?
ANA IVANOVIC: I think the whole match I didn’t really feel like myself out there. It was really tough for me to find rhythm a little bit. In the third set really felt like she raised her level.
Q. Just how disappointing is this for you considering you came out to win the Grand Slams this year?
ANA IVANOVIC: It’s really disappointing. You know, it’s probably the worst thing could happen. But still, the year is young and I really have to now sit and work on few things and just maybe try to have a different approach to this kind of event and try to see what was lacking.
Q. Ten double-faults, did you see your serve as a problem today?
ANA IVANOVIC: You know, it was really I think all around the game. That made a big difference. I really felt like I couldn’t really put so much power on my serve or the groundstrokes. So many times my forehand was finishing short as well and that was very disappointing. In Brisbane my serve was on such a good level. I really felt like I improved in the off-season. Obviously today was really not working. I really feel it’s just going to probably come back with the next match.
Q. Did you feel more pressure coming into this slam as opposed to maybe this year? More expectations on yourself?
ANA IVANOVIC: I didn’t try to think much about that. Like I spoke, I really feel the way you play, it determines your ranking. I really just try to think about my game and what I have to do. You know, I really today struggled to find rhythm. Just a little bit lost.
Q. You’re a top seed and you’ve been playing well, you were in the final in Brisbane. How do you personally get over a shock like that?
ANA IVANOVIC: It’s hard. There is no easy way to do that. But to get back on the court and back working really hard and try to see next challenge and next event. There is no easy way. It has to hurt as well.
Q. How important do you think the seventh game in the second set, the 3-All game, the one deuce on her serve, you had a break point there?
ANA IVANOVIC: I think actually the important one was beginning of the second set when I had two break points and I had easy miss. Then she played some good shots to save that game. Then she went on to break me and then got 3-Love up. Obviously that game as well played a big part in that second set.
Q. Is there anything that you’ve tried to do — sorry to go back to the nerves — anything off- court, practices, or…
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I think this is important part. You cannot just do it in a match. You have to work on it off the court as well and work with a system in place.
Q. What did you mean when you said take a different approach? Do you mean this tournament? Play more tournaments beforehand or less?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I think just mentally how you approach each match. I really felt good before the tournament started. I had a great week in Brisbane. The level was really high. But you just have to accept that you’re going to have tough days and you got to go through the tough days to improve. I’m such a perfectionist and sometimes I judge myself too much.
