TENNIS in DEPTH.

Novak is a role model for many children and is aware of that. His aim is to advance and to bring happiness to children and young tennis players in Serbia.

He is happy to spend time with young colleagues at the big tournaments. It’s a bit different with older players, because they are rivals. “We all see each other every week. We respect each other, because we know how much work is needed to become a professional player, especially at the top of the list. It’s not good to be too close, because I try to beat them, and there is a rivalry, but there are no negative and bad thoughts”, commented Novak. He has good relation with Roger, and he’s closer with Nadal. He has only words of praise for the young Spaniard, both as a player and a person.

He often gets a car as a prize from the sponsors when he wins a tournament, and while participating in the competition he is driving official cars. His personal favorites are German Audi, BMW, Mercedes, but he also likes small Mini Cooper.

He usually drives in Monte Carlo, where his official address is. He really likes it there, because it is peaceful, and he has everything he needs to relax, nobody disturbs him and he can lead a normal life. It is one of priorities for a top tennis player.

With so many obligations, Nole always finds time for his girlfriend Jelena Ristic. They’ve been in a relationship for more than three years. He presented her to the world at the tournament in the Netherlands in 2006, when he won his first ATP title. Statistics says that with the help of his girl he reached the third place in the world, winning a total of 16 tournaments.

“Jelena is a solid tennis player and a great athlete. She is very smart, smarter than me. She makes suggestions and helps me become a better person. I like that”, said Djokovic once.

When you are young and desirable, it is normal that people connect you with various beauties. It all started with a gossip that he was in a relationship with an old friend and colleague Ana Ivanovic. Then came a story about alleged adventure with the Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, with whom he was seen having fun in a night club in Miami. During the Olympics, there was a story about attractive Paraguayan javelin thrower Leryn Franco, and even rumors about alleged romance with Natasa Bekvalac. But it’s clear to everyone that Jelena is the love of his life.

Due to the nature of his job, Novak has traveled a lot, Jelena studied in Milan, and they usually see each other during the holiday season. Nole bought a two and a half million worth yacht “Manhattan 60″, so he could enjoy cruising at the Mediterranean. The yacht has four cabins, lounge, kitchen, bathroom and a speedboat. Ceiling is trimmed with leather, but partly with plexiglass, and the sweethearts can enjoy the view of the moon and the stars, in the company of Nole’s dog Pierre, beautiful maltezer, from whom Jelena does not part.

Nole would not be where he is today, if it weren’t for his family. He’s one of the few players followed by parents, and often brothers, at every tournament.

“I am attached to my family. It is, after all, the purpose of life. To have a family, people who will be there for you and with you always. Of course, there are moments when I want to be alone, because I grew up. Thank God they know how to recognise when I need support and they can be with me whenever I need them,” said the Serb honestly.

Novak Djokovic is the most successful Serbian tennis player of all time, but he has not yet realised his childhood dream: when he was only four, he wished to become no.1 racket in the world. There is no doubt that Nole will make it true.

Bookmark It

With just over two weeks to go before the start of the 2010 season, Ana is feeling positive about her return to the court. The 22-year-old took part in a photo opportunity and media conference in Queensland, Australia, earlier this week, ahead of the Brisbane International, which begins on 3 January.

“I’ve been training well and I’m really looking forward to competing again,” said Ana.

“I really love it here and I’ve been saying that for years. Every time I look forward to playing here. The crowd is very warm and they are very knowledgeable about tennis and they are great supporters of tennis.

“So it’s a lot of fun to play here. I had great support last year when I reached the final and I hope to feel that support again.”

Asked about her tumultuous 2009 season, which was characterized by injuries and disappointing results, she said: “It wasn’t an easy year, but I think I learned a lot and it made me a lot stronger.

“It also made me realise when you’re on a winning streak you can take it for granted.

“I just start to appreciate it a little more and I think now I can never let myself go that far.”

Bookmark It

A 10-part series will retrace the life and reign of king Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, first monarch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, who unified the kingdoms of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia after World War I.

The tennis champion and first-time actor will play Aleksandar during his reign, which came to a brutal end in 1934 when he was assassinated in the port of Marseilles while trying to set up an alliance with France against Germany.

Djokovic’s younger brother Djordje will play the king as a young man.

Filmed on a budget of almost three million euros (4.2 million dollars), their show is set to air in 2011, its director Stojan Stojcic said.

Bookmark It

Hello from Monaco!

The rehab for my back is going pretty good. I’m almost fully recovered and have been starting to practice again, so it’s definitely going in the right direction. I’m feeling better and better every day, and I’m happy to be doing it in Monaco, which is like my second home, after Moscow of course. I love spending time here.

A typical day for me here is lots of time in the gym! In the morning I have to do special exercises for my lower back, then I go on the court a little bit and play tennis, then I take a nap! After that I cook some lunch for myself then go back on court again to play just a little bit more, then it’s back to the gym for more exercises on my back. As you can see I’m spending a lot of time on the lower back!

Despite the injury, 2009 was my best season so far. I’m really proud of it. I’m really happy with myself and with the job my team did – we got to No.1! I finished with my highest year-end ranking ever, No.2, won two big tournaments and one smaller one, made two Grand Slam finals… it was just amazing. It was all maybe too much for my body but I can’t blame anyone for that. I’m very happy with my year.

Looking to 2010, the most important thing is recovering from my injury and staying healthy. It’s my first priority. Right now I don’t even care how the results go, because once I’m healthy, the results will come. I want to be happy going on court and playing without pain. Hopefully I can play fully healthy in Australia and I’ll just go from there.

I’m excited about the holidays. In Russia we don’t do Christmas but we do New Year’s. I’m going back to Moscow from the 23rd to the 26th and then coming back here, so I’ll be here for New Year’s. I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be nice to spend time with family and friends.

I want to thank you all for supporting me. I always read your comments on my website and I’m trying to recover and get fit for 2010, so I can hopefully show you all some good tennis again! I’m thankful for all of the nice things you write in, don’t give up on me. I’ll do my best!

If anyone is in Monaco you are welcome to come and see me practice, I’m here until the 23rd then I’ll be back from the 26th to January 1. I’d be happy to see you!

Have a great holiday and talk to you all again soon,

Dinara

Bookmark It

I’m in Florida for two weeks already, working hard and preparing for the challenges on the court which the new season is going to bring.

My team is with me, and we have a working plan and program for each day, which we strictly hold to. It is like that because of our goal to do the preparations for the upcoming 2010. in such a way that during the year the results we’re expecting come. It is not easy to get up early every day, and spend hours on the court. But, it is all a price to pay in order to reach my goal and be in the top. I don’t have problems with the practicing, beause tennis is my life preocupation, and it is something I enjoy and love to do.

I practice at Bollettieri Academy, where every day I see large number of well known tennis players, but also many young talents which are yet to turn their skills into results on the court. It is nice to be surrounded by all those young people, who are full of positive energy and will to touch the stars in the sport they’ve chosen. I was once in the same position, when I came as a 12-year old to this Academy, not knowing anyone, totally alone in the world of strangers. But, it only made me stronger and made me more hard working and a tougher person. It wasn’t easy because I sacrificed a lot for that, but I’m now in a position to help others, to go every day to the courts of Bollettieri camp with a smile on my face, and to be surrounded by people whom I love and who love me. When I look at all those children, the new little champions, I sense a burst of emotions and remember the times that past, the time when I became mature and tough.

I feel sorry for not to be able to do a part of my season preparations in Belgrade, and for the situation is still the same when I started playing tennis  there are no courts, nor conditions for practices. Unfortunately, so many years have passed, so many thins we have done for our and world’s tennis, and still in our country, in our Belgrade, we do not have the conditions to practice. Therefore, we must travel around the globe and look for the places where we are to prepare for victories, the things people always expect us to do, and the things we got our people used to.

New Year approaches. I will spend it in Florida, with my family and friends. We have already decorated a New Year tree, and I must say I’m enchanted with its look. After the intensive practice I like to sit across this tree and rest just by watching it shine in all its great appearance. In the same time I listen Christmas carols which give a special touch to the upcoming holidays.

I travel to Australia on 5th January 2010. where I’m going to spend our Christmas holidays, and then I’m starting with tournaments, and the first matches in the next season. The starting tournament I will play in Sydney, after which the Grand Slam in Melbourne follows  Australian Open. ANTA already made a nice dress, turquoise blue, which I will wear on these tournaments. After Australia I’m coming to Belgrade, and to FED cup tie with Russia in Arena. I hope that we will continue with the victories and the approach to FED cup trophy.

Bookmark It

Alicia Molik’s comeback to world tennis was given a major boost this morning when she was given a wildcard into the main draw of Australian Open 2010.

Australian Open organisers announced two women’s and three men’s wildcards today.

Talented Melbourne teenager Olivia Rogowska was given the other women’s wildcard announced which leaves just one remaining.

In the men’s side Davis Cup player Carsten Ball, two-time junior grand slam winner Bernard Tomic and national under 18 champion Jason Kubler from Queensland were announced as wildcards.

“Alicia is a former world No. 8 who has done more than enough to earn this,” Fed Cup coach and national selector David Taylor said today.

Bookmark It

Roger Federer and Serena Williams have been named as 2009′s world champions by the International Tennis Federation after topping the year-end rankings.

Federer, who wins the honour for the fifth time, completed a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros before winning his 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

And Williams won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, her 11th major success.

The pair will receive their awards at the annual ITF world champions dinner in Paris in June.

Bookmark It

Ana Ivanovic has been training at her Sunshine Beach base with her former coach Sven Groenefeld, The prospective third seed for the Brisbane International, which starts on Sunday week, said her association with Melbourne conditioner Mark McGrath, who formerly worked with Olympic athlete Cathy Freeman, had ended after only two weeks and she had enlisted Damian Prasad, who had been with the Australian Institute of Sport tennis program.

During a 2009 season in which injuries and illness drove her ranking out to No. 21, the Serbian right-hander stopped working with Scott Byrnes, the Australian conditioner who helped her, along with Groenefeld, to her 2008 French Open title during a three-year stint.

The former world No. 1, who blames injuries from “over-training” for her slide, believes changing times for her off the court will translate to better fortunes and a return to the top 10 in 2010.

“It’s great to have someone like Sven, so knowledgeable about women’s tennis,” said Ivanovic, who will be having Christmas at a Sunshine Beach house with boyfriend Adam Scott, some family members and her off-court team.

“It’s different working with the girls to the guys. It helps that he knows me that well that he understands what I’m going through, even without me expressing myself so much. We went through a lot of good and bad times together and he still has a lot of things to teach me.

“I worked with (McGrath in November) for a couple of weeks in Melbourne – now I have a new fitness coach. I feel I have the right people now who are going to help me get back on the right track and I’m looking forward to the tournaments now.

“Brisbane is a great place to start. I’m going out without expectations but know that I can reach far.”

Ivanovic, 21, said she understands publicity surrounding her relationship with Scott would make her even more popular at her two Australian tournaments and admits she will have to arrange a “few tickets” for him to watch her Brisbane International matches.

“I really loved it here and have been saying it for years – the crowds are very warm and knowledgeable about tennis,” she said.

Ivanovic said she was excited by the prospect of posting a first win over Justine Henin, who is making her comeback in Brisbane from a brief retirement.

“She’s an amazing player, definitely one of the toughest opponents – I have not beaten her yet,” she said.

Ivanovic said she knew better how to minimise injuries as a result of her experiences this year. “I need to work smarter,” she said.

Bookmark It