Day 4 - An interview with Ana Ivanovic - Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Q. Just talk about the match, just how you're feeling coming into the tournament a little bit.

ANA IVANOVIC: Oh, I'm really happy with my game, today, especially through the first match. And since Sunday, I was expecting I might play next day, next day. So it's always tough. It takes away a lot of energy.

But, yeah, considering all that, I was really happy with my performance today. And obviously the court's are a little bit heavy, so I tried to not rush too much, take more time and focus on what I have to do. And, yeah, it was really exciting.

Q. The Serbians have had a lot of success lately. I mean, you left at 12 to go to Switzerland. Tell me how that came about, how you made that decision?

ANA IVANOVIC: It's very, very nice for me to see that so many people from Serbia doing good at the moment. And it's exciting for all of us, because that's motivation for each of us.

I was always kind of practicing back in Serbia and was going a little bit to Switzerland because my manager was there, and also a quarter of the time he used to live there. So that's why I've been going to Switzerland a lot. But otherwise I was practicing at home.

And I really hope that now with all the success we have, that the people will start investing more in making some facilities because that's what we need for our further success.

Q. Is it possible to stay in Serbia and become a really great tennis player or is it necessary, really, to leave the country?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I think when we were younger, it was much tougher because tennis wasn't as popular as it's becoming now. So the Association didn't really take care of about us well.

But now I hope that it will change with so many of us playing better, and also many young kids are starting to play tennis. So that will ‑‑ that should motivate also our tennis association to do a better job with the a facilities and coaches.

But I think we have great talent. I think it would be possible. Just it needs to be worked a little bit on that.

Q. How recognized how are you in Serbia?

ANA IVANOVIC: It's hard to say, change over the time. But now people recognize me whenever, wherever I go. And it's kind of nice feeling because, you know, the people actually follow the results. But on the other hand, you lose a little bit of privacy. But, yeah, it's exciting; it's different.

Q. Do you consider it a coincidence that the three of you have had this success at the same time? You're from Serbia, but you're world citizens in a way. You've all spent a good deal of time overseas.

ANA IVANOVIC: I think we have great ambassadors of our country. We are all very young. So it's great to see the all doing well at the same time and having three or four top 10 players. It's unbelievable success for our country, and I think they should appreciate it back home because who knows when it's going to happened again. And this is a great time for our tennis.

Q. Is there any way to talk about a Serbian style? Is there anything you guys have in common that you can put your finger on?

ANA IVANOVIC: I think we're all very good fighters, and we have, like, tough mentality, so I think that's what we probably have in common.

Q. Would it be exaggerating to say ‑‑ you all in different ways experience the trouble in your country from, you know, many years ago. Is it a stretch to say that you appreciate what you have more because of that?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I think definitely we appreciate it much more, and also we appreciate opportunity we got. And that's what is very exciting for us to see, and it was ‑‑ it was tough times, and there is no doubt about that. But I think we all came strong. And, yeah, as you said, we appreciate it and we try to take every opportunity.

Q. Who identified you as a talent in Serbia when you were young? I mean, do other people, coaches have a good eye for talent?

ANA IVANOVIC: When I was a kid, quite few coaches used to say I'm very talented and I have good potential. And I always had quite powerful game. I was always moving forward and trying to attack every ball. And they said I had good potential.

And then when I played tournament under 12 in France, then they, the manager from Switzerland, the guy, he saw me and he asked me if I would come to Switzerland to try practice two weeks. And that's actually where I would say a turning‑point. They started managing my traveling and coach expenses.

So, yeah, I would say that was a very important time of my life.