Ana Ivanovic is effortlessly beautiful. Drawing a crowd from the second she stepped from a car at Dubai International Airport's Terminal Three, the 24-year-old tennis star is a model — without the drama.
She didn't spend hours in hair and make-up or have her stylist pick out her dress. Instead, the former No 1 showered after practice, did her hair in the car and managed a quick stroke of lip gloss before cameras started rolling.
Filming a WTA promotional video ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Ivanovic, accompanied by her mother, took the job in her 6ft 1in stride.
Departures
Ivanovic looked longingly at the departures board and picked her dream destination. “I’d like to go to New York or London right now,” she said to the camera crew.
Passport control…
Polite and courteous to everyone she came into contact with, the currently ranked No 18 smiled and joked with the staff at passport control as she made her way into the departures hall
Emirates First Class Lounge
If like me, you assume tennis players are used to first-class travel, think again. “I cannot believe the size and the facilities,” said a wide-eyed Ivanovic as she walked into the lounge. Ivanovic was then offered the chance to enjoy thefacilities when she leaves Dubai and could barely contain her excitement. “My flight is at 8 in the morning, so I’d have to get here early to enjoy it. Maybe I could sleep here. It’s better than most hotels.”
Shop, shop, shop…
The Dubai Duty Free arcade took her breath away. Not sure where to head first, Ivanovic scanned the options before settling on the Gold Souk. A kilogram gold bar fascinated the star and before long the staff had her covered
in traditional Arabic jewellery. One piece was priced at Dh62,000. “I’ll take two,” joked Ivanovic. The sports star delivered lines to the camera explaining gold was priced based on the weight rather than how beautiful or intricate each piece is. Marc Jacobs Daisy was the first point of call in the perfume department, with Ivanovic saying “it’s
been my favourite for a while” and having a quick spritz
Dubai love...
Ivanovic has long been a fan of the city. “It’s always a place I am very happy to come to. It’swonderful to have seen it grow, change and develop and that ishappening all the time.” Inset: Ivanovic chats with Dubai Duty Free’s Sinead Al Sibai. Ivanovic wore…
Ivanovic wore…
A grey jersey dress with frills from Sydney-based designer Mrs Press. “I never know where my clothes are from, but I do remember seeing this in a boutique in Sydney and knowing it would be so comfortable.” Gorgeous Christian Louboutin flat pumps covered in Swarovski crystals completed the look.
Being Ivanovic…
Having picked up a racket at the age of five after watching Monica Seles, a fellow Yugoslav, on television, Ivanovic started her career after memorising the number of a local tennis clinic from an advertisement. In her early days she trained in an abandoned swimming pool in the winter, as there were no other facilities.
