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03.09.09
Jelena on right track
Jelena Jankovic meets Yaroslava Shvedova in the second round at the US Open. Having eased to a win over Italy’s Roberta Vinci, the world’s number five is brimming with confidence ahead of new challenges on the New York hard-court surface, where she has always excelled.
The last year’s finalist says she can take it one step further this time round.
- “I’ve beaten players from the top and that’s something you want to do if you aim to return to your best form. I think I am on the right track of acquiring my dream,” says Jankovic.
JJ, as Jankovic was originally dubbed by Martina Navratilova, says she does not want to go too far analysing what might happen before the US Open ends.
- “I came out really focused and I wanted to do my job in a good way,” Jankovic said. “I wanted to get the first strike, hit first, and try to dominate as much as possible. And especially knowing that I had tough matches against her in the past, she has that slice and, little bit different style of game than most girls. So that can be difficult and tricky out there,” says Jelena.
Kazakhstan’s Shvedova is currently ranked 55th in the world.
- “I thought that the serve helped me a lot today. I held my serve every time and didn’t really have any trouble holding my serve, which is important. You can then play much looser when you’re returning,” admits Jankovic.
In 2008, Jankovic fell short of claiming the women’s title, losing to Serena Williams in the final.
- “I play my best tennis when I’m light on my feet, when I’m dynamic, when I can move. For me they’re just the pace that I like to play on. I played on faster surfaces. I thought maybe Stanford, that center court in Stanford was much faster than these courts here. But I like it a lot here. I’m enjoying my tennis. I hope to continue like this,” said Jankovic at the end of the post-match interview.
Djokovic: I’m ready to win title
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic came off to a convincing start of his US Open campaign after disposing of Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic in straight sets – 6-3 6-1 6-3. The Serbian men’s number one now takes on Carsten Ball of Australia in the second round.
 Having claimed another win, Djokovic managed to bury the hatchet with the New York crowds, after heated words he said on his last season’s clash with home player Andy Roddick.
- “Well, look, I mean, this is past. What happened last year, the way I get it, to be honest, was like, I don’t know, a fight with a girlfriend. Just a little fight with a girlfriend. These things happen. It was something that everybody can learn from it. I always felt like at home here. I played so well last three years. I see no reason for me thinking about something that happened already. So today was great. I just hope that the fans will behave nice, you know, in the next rounds,” says Djokovic.
This evening Novak meets Carsten Ball, placed 155th in the ATP rankings, who beat Juan Pablo Brzezicki 7-6 6-3 6-4.
- “So far physically I feel really fit. Obviously game wise, as you saw today [against Ljubicic], I am in a good form, good shape. Let’s just hope I can continue this way,” said Novak.
The world’s number four aims to go far at Flushing Meadows and then try and improve on his current rankings position in the remainder of the season. For that particular purpose the Serb has signed on American expert and former player Todd Martin.
Elsewhere, Viktor Troicki struggled against Australia’s Peter Luczak in the first round. The five-setter and a hard-fought, exhausting win could take toll on the young Serb ahead of his second-round match against France’s Julien Benneteau.
This will be Troicki’s first ever head-to-head with the French player, currently ranked 43rd in the world.
Ana: I have nowhere to run
The crisis Ana Ivanovic is going through is entering a new chapter. This time the world’s number 11 crashed out of the women’s draw at the US Open, after losing to Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 3-6 6-7, ranked 52 in the women’s rankings.
The endless problems Ivanovic has recently had with the ball toss when serving, a great number of unforced errors and shakiness at her serve have all contributed to the onset of a crisis of results and performances Ivanovic has been hit by. An odd winner and her opponent’s mistakes were not enough to bring the Serb a win in the second round. Ivanovic did come from 1-4 down in the decider to 5-4, after which she failed to convert a match point in the tie-breaker.
- “It’s very disappointing. You know, it hurts. I can tell you that. You know, I’m sure I will have sleepless nights. But I have to accept it and try to put this year behind me, and try to learn from it. I’m sure next time, you know, I have no doubt I have potential now to be back in the top,” the Serbian player said
Ana is aware of the nightmare she has been going through in the past months.
- “I think I’ve been thinking about everything too much and trying to address lots of issues with my game, and at the moment I feel like I have a plan in place and I know what I have to do in each area of my game. But just at the moment I think it’s a little disbalanced. My fitness is at one level, mind at another, my game is at another level. I think these all these things have to marry to get into the right direction and have to fit,” said Ana in a post-match interview.
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