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Monday 19 May 2014

Is Fist Pumping A Serious Contestant Again?

Ana Ivanovic culminated in 2008, when she reached the number 1 spot and won Roland Garros. At that time, the Serb was known for screaming Adje! and fist pumping after winners and for her decisive forehand. There were no doubts in anyone’s mind that she would become a multi times Slams winner.


Photo by Chritian Mesiano under Creative Common License, CC-BY-SA 2.0
However, instead of going up as everybody expected her to, Ana sunk. She started to lose early in tournaments, and then her serve which was one of her best weapon disappeared and little by little the other parts of her game dilapidated. 

In answer, Ana lost a considerable amount of weight. She also hired coach after coach to no avail. Each “improved” her game as they saw fit. Some made her use more topspin on her shots, other made her use slice more, other tried to improve her fitness. In the end, the prettiest player in the WTA became a pale copy of her former self.

In 2010, she even went out of the top 50 for a time, dropping to 63rd place in the world. Since that hard period, Ana was able to settle into the top 20, never going lower but never getting higher either. She was a good player, but not one that was feared, not anymore. I honestly thought that her days in the top ranks were gone.

Well, that was until last week.

The Serb has had an amazing season so far. She won 2 titles and she was able to beat Serena in Australia. I didn’t think (and still don't think) that this win was anything more than a fluke and I didn’t think that her titles were a proof of anything.

Yet, yes yet, last week, on Rome’s red clay, Ivanovic was able to sent Maria Sharapova back home, reaching by the same occasion the semi finals. To me, this was a sign. Sure, the Russian was probably weakened by the two previous weeks of intense tennis she had endured. Still, Maria is a fighter and Ana of old would have folded like a piece of paper under the pressure. However, this time, she won.

Her next opponent was  no one else then the mighty Serena Williams with revenge churning in the back of her mind (or so I imagine). Serena is never as dangerous as when she wants to keep her head to head straight. 

Ana put on a good fight but lost 1/6 6/3 1/6 (it was Serena after all what did you expect?). I saw both matches, and I was seriously impressed by Ana’s level of play. She moves and defends very well, she’s strong on both wings but her serve is a bit shaky though. And most importantly, she was fearless and motivated. 

Whether it was against Serena or Maria, the Serb never showed a sign of weakness even when she was in difficult. I almost felt like I was seeing Ana circa 2007- 2008, the one whose game was a wonder to the eyes.

Pleased by what I saw in Rome, I watched clips of her from Madrid in which she reached the final. I was pleasantly surprised. I realized that Ana Ivanovic had maybe found her form back at last. If she’s able to keep this level, I believe that Ana could go far at the French Open and perhaps, she could even re-enter the top 10 by the end of the season. 

Quick sum up of my thoughts: Yeah Fist Pumping is a serious contestant again (and will remain so, if she stays consistent.)










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