The U.S. State Department has nominated Ana Ivanovic for its 2008 International Women of Courage Award. The award was created by the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in order to recognize achievements by outstanding women globally with a focus on recognizing women on the ‘front lines.’

What Ana Ivanovic has done to deserve this nomination? I checked Ana’s official website to see what she has done so courageous. In addition to reaching world #2 in the rankings, “in the past year Ana became a UNICEF ambassador for Serbia. Since her inauguration in September 2007 she has not only donated a considerable sum that has enabled 15 schools to join the “Schools Without Violence” programme, she has raised awareness about child safety through her off-court activities, which included writing a newspaper column that benefited UNICEF during the Australian Open.”

That’s a lot of achievement, and I am pleased to see that athletes are socially active. However, I don’t think this is enough to get nominated for the “International Courage Award.” Check out the previous two years’ recipients here and here to understand what exactly “being courageous” means to me.

What do you think? Does Ana deserve the nomination?

As a person who loves playing chess and keeping my monkey-mind busy with Sudoku, I was nicely surprised to read that Ana Ivonovic also has a passion for Sudoku. “From the time I was young, I have loved these sort of games that require some mental exercise. Sudoko helps me keep my focus and concentrate on my thinking. I find Sudoko is the best way to get prepared for a match,” Ivanovic said.

I also believe it helps reducing the risk of developing an Alzheimer’s disease–not that Ana needs to worry about it now:-) (Via On the Baseline)

Maria Sharapova beats Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 to win Australian Open for her 3rd grand slam title.

Check out the image slide show of the 2008 Women’s Final.

When it comes to sponsorship and mega-million dollar endorsements, many talented athletes who see only prize money in their professional career, think “it is not fair.” But tennis, first and foremost, is business.

Marketers’ joy as Ivanovic, Sharapova face off

THE Australian Open has its dream final, a “glam slam” decider tomorrow between Russian temptress Maria Sharapova and Serbian siren Ana Ivanovic.

The two most photogenic stars in grand slam tennis will square off at Melbourne Park in a confrontation which has left fans and television executives drooling. Seven spokesman Simon Francis last night declared: “We are over the moon. Ana versus Maria is the stuff of dreams.

“Sometimes in sports television you hit the bullseye. We’ve hit it. Read more »

For the two weeks of the Australian Open, world No. 3 female tennis player Ana Ivanovic will write a daily blog that will be published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, USA Today, on WTA Tour website and her official website, www.anaivanovic.com.

On the men’s side, ATP has recruited Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis to blog for the ATP website during the AO.

20-year-old Serbian Ana Ivanovic (aka Golden Girl #2) has signed potentially the biggest racquet endorsement deal in the history of tennis. According to CNBC sources “it’s a four-year deal that could hit eight figures if Ivanovic is ranked No. 1 for about half the deal.” Ivanovic begins the season ranked fourth in the world but will rise to a career-high ranking of No.3 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour when the new rankings come out on Monday.

Ivanovic, who has endorsement deals with Adidas, Juice Plus and Verona Motors, is expected to be the new face of Yonex, being that she is the brand’s highest ranked player. Yonex is also No 10-ranked David Nalbandian’s clothing and racquet sponsor. Ana’s Adidas contract is also believed to be one of the most lucrative since Steffi Graf’s retirement.

This is a great news. I get really excited when female athletes sign major endorsement deals. I am sure Ana’s on and off court success inspires thousands of young girls around the world, especially in developing countries, to pick up rackets and start working hard towards their goals. Wonder who is Golden Girl No 1?

(Photo: Manuela Davies/anaivanovic.com)

Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Justine Henin open with wins in Madrid. Read more in detail about the opening day at the Sony Ericsson Championships at On the Baseline.

Sharapova wore something quite a bit different from her usual sexy outfits.”It’s more classy,” Sharapova said about the more reserved two-piece “librarian” outfit. “I’m still trying to match the (purple) court as you can see. I don’t know what the court color is going to be next year but I promise I’m not doing it on purpose.”

Photos: Maria Sharapova - Madrid 2007/Madrid 2006

Ana Ivanovic celebrated her 20th birthday with a big win over world No 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova. See Ana’s pictures after the cut.

Read more »

I am planning to do some maintenance work on this site today. If you see anything weird or not working properly, it means I have messed up something with the code Be patient with me, and sit back and enjoy the WTA Chamipionships in Madrid. Today’s matches are: Justine Henin vs Anna Chakvetadze, followed by Maria Sharapova vs Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic vs Svetlana Kuznetsova. Tennis-player turned soccer-journalist Anastasia Myskina predicts that either Justine Henin or Kuznetsova will be the winner.

Not a “fan-favorite” day in Zurich Open.

French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, who I like very much, was upset by unseeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko in the second round of the Zurich Open.

World number four Ana Ivanovic also suffered a shock 6-3 6-1 defeat to Tatiana Golovin from France.

Another fan favorite Jelena Jankovic, seeded third in Zurich, was defeated in straight sets 6-4 6-4 by Czech Nicole Vaidisova.

Recent Kremlin Cup champion Elena Dementieva forced to retire with an injured left thigh after trailing Italian Francesca Schiavone. Dementieva’s withdrawal ended any chance the Russian had of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Championship in Madrid, Spain.

On Tuesday Serena Williams retired with a right adductor injury after losing the first nine games to Swiss Patty Schnyder.

Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic and Serena Williams have qualified for the WTA tournament on Nov. 6-11. Five other players are still eligible for the remaining three spots.

(Source: Reuters, Zurich Open)

 Well, apparently Novak Djokovic is not only good at playing tennis in an empty swimming pool.

There have been many media reports about how Novak Djokovic, world No. 3 tennis player, along with his childhood friend Ana Ivanovic, currently ranked No 6, practiced in an empty swimming pool while growing up in Belgrad. A sports club official drained an Olympic-size swimming pool in the winter and put down a green carpet and net.

Ana Ivanovic is the first Serbian woman to reach a Grand Slam final at Roland Garros since Monica Seles. The 20-year-old Djokovic is ranked No. 3 after winning four titles this year and reaching the U.S. Open final only to lose the top-ranked Roger Federer.

Don’t we love those Cinderella stories?

(Photo source: wtatour.ru)