Interview with Ana Ivanovic
at TELECOM MASTERS ITALIA
ROME, ITALY   10-05-2005

ANA IVANOVIC: (Smiling). After the draw.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I mean, every opponent is tough, every match is tough by itself. There are many good players here, so I am pretty happy that I won today. But, as I said, there is no easy matches here, so you have to -- but it's good because you have competition and challenges all the time.

ANA IVANOVIC: In Warsaw we played quite good. I was happy the way it went because it was my first clay court tournament after long time. So I was happy that I could win some matches, won some matches. And then after in Berlin I didn't adapt very well. I didn't have little bit timing. But now it's another week, and I'm looking forward for the next round.

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, it's good. It's little bit faster.

ANA IVANOVIC: I like playing on hard court. This is little bit faster clay, so it's good for me. I really enjoy it.

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I would like it. Every player for every tournament goes to win it, so you just have to try to play your best tennis and the results will come.

ANA IVANOVIC: I played against her already twice before, so I know little bit how she's playing. As I said, I just have to play my game, try to do the best. So looking forward.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, they are definitely now coming, especially the Russians. They have so many players. But I think just competition. At the moment, Eastern Europe players, there are more of them. But maybe in few years will be different. So you just have to work hard and it will come.

ANA IVANOVIC: I think tennis, it's becoming more popular. I can see that also in our country. There are so many kids now starting to play tennis. I think there are many reasons for that. But first of all, you have to like it; otherwise, it's not worth doing it.

ANA IVANOVIC: Thank you (smiling).

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, I think it's important. Many aspects need to come together. For example, in our country, we have little bit problem with sponsors. That's the one thing that the people, they are trying to go out little bit to hopefully someone to see them. So I think that's the main thing. I mean, there is lot of things. First, you need to be talented and to have hard work and sponsors. But I think is really nice. I enjoy it very much.

ANA IVANOVIC: First place are my parents for that they supported me since I start playing tennis. It was same type situation in our country. I was lucky I got manager so I could go little bit further and prove, so I could compete on a higher level. But my family has always been there for me, so I really appreciate that.

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, brother.

ANA IVANOVIC: Basketball, yes.

ANA IVANOVIC: No, no, I didn't. Only tennis. I started when I was five. So I was watching it on TV and I really liked it, so I was asking my mom to sign me in for a tennis school, and that's how I started.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, it's -- I think it's little bit you have to make the step between Juniors and professional. But I think I did that really well. So it's little bit different. It's more serious, it's more -- it's higher level of the game, of course. But I really enjoying being here. I really appreciate that.

ANA IVANOVIC: I think now at the moment there is quite a lot of young players coming in, and that's nice, that's good for competition. It's not only the same people, there are always new and new people who are coming. It's not always the, let's say, same final. It's just much more interesting. For us, bigger competition, and that's good. It's temptation.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, depends. I mean, you just -- I think the physical condition, it's very important because that's the base to prevent injuries so you can last longer.

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