Dubai: She has graced numerous magazine covers including the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 edition and was also voted the sexiest tennis player in the world for the fifth straight year.
But 2008 French Open champion and former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic hasn't let her off-court pursuits distract her, instead preferring to let her tennis talk. And talking it had been for the latter part of 2010 when the 23-year-old won two titles and it seemed the zing was back in her game before injury struck again.
Now, as she prepares to take part in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship starting February 14, the sultry Serb tells XPRESS exclusively that despite her repeated injury setbacks, she still hopes to bounce back in Dubai.
"I was very disappointed at losing early at the Australian Open. I was looking forward to this tournament for a long time, so for it to go the way it did was very disappointing," Ivanovic said.
"[Ekaterina] Makarova played a great match and I didn't use the momentum I had in the second set, so that made it even more disappointing, because I had a chance to win. But I prefer to look ahead. The Australian Open is finished now, and I am looking forward to my next tournaments."
Things seemed to be looking up at the end of 2010 when she won in Linz and Bali after going almost two years without a title. "Winning in Linz was an amazing feeling. It was a mixture of delight and a little bit relief, that finally I could win another tournament. Bali was also very thrilling - it was the perfect way to end the season," she said.
But, as has been the trend, the world No 19 was again hit by injury just when it looked like she was getting back to her best.
"Yes, it was very unfortunate timing. The season had started well in Perth and then to get the stomach injury was very frustrating. Obviously it affected my preparation for the Australian Open, but I've recovered from it and I'm practising hard now," she said.
And Ivanovic believes she has a point to prove to her fans in Dubai as well.
"Dubai is always a fun place to visit. It has great shopping and some amazing hotels. I've played some good matches at this tournament and I hope to go further this year than I have in the past.
"I've never reached the semis in Dubai, so that would be a good target for this year at the minimum. But I want to compete for the title as well, of course," she said.
