Serbian stunner Ana Ivanovic is solely focused on a return to No.1 with a hot start to 2009 in Australia rather than pushing her claims as world sport’s glamour girl.
Ivanovic will officially kick-start her campaign Down Under on Monday night when she plays her first-round match at the inaugural Brisbane International.
The tournament drawcard will face Czech teenager Petra Kvitova, the world No.50, at Pat Rafter Arena after the centre court was set aside for her in the opening night session almost a week ago.
Ivanovic has been training on the Sunshine Coast for the past fortnight to prepare herself for an assault on the Australian Open.
The statuesque 21 year old, currently world ranked No.5 after an injury-hit end to last year, is motivated by her 2008 final loss to Maria Sharapova at Melbourne Park.
“I really want to take it one step further this time and hopefully win it,” she said at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Saturday.
“But I think it’s important not to think too much about the final and take it step by step and enjoy every match.”
The No.1 ranking in the game, held by compatriot Jelena Jankovic, who is yet to win a Grand Slam event, is also at the top of her to-do list, and she is treating the Brisbane event as a key springboard.
“It’s very important to start well and get your confidence and I set some goals for myself this season but my main goal is to try to be very consistent and to perform well at the biggest tournaments and then rankings take care of themselves,” Ivanovic said.
“I’ve worked very hard and I believe I have the qualities to get back to No.1 position. It’s going to be tough for sure but I can do it.
“I think it’s very open. Especially in the last couple of months, women’s tennis has been so close with the race for No.1 position and I think it’s still in play.”
Ivanovic grabbed No.1 last June after breaking through for her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Despite the slide, Ivanovic is still viewed as the most marketable women’s player in the game with Sharapova.
Brisbane International organisers were quick to make the most of her to promote the tournament with a glamourous photo shoot on the Kangaroo Point cliffs, wearing a platinum-coloured evening dress.
But the six-foot tall right-hander, unfazed by the rain and gloom that saw the shot moved, stresses she’s an athlete rather than a model and distances herself from talk otherwise.
On her fourth lengthy pre-season trip to Australia, Ivanovic and Spanish boyfriend Fernando Verdasco trained together in Noosa and she admitted they would look to use it as their training base again in the future.
“I want to be here every year. It’s a great place to be and I love the beach and people are so friendly and so easy going,” said the Brisbane top seed, who has family in Melbourne.
“In the morning when I first arrived from Europe, I woke up at 5.30 am and I go to the beach and there are people working out and it’s so inspiring to see.”
Ana Ivanovic
Video: Queensland Tennis Centre Opening
Photo gallery: Brisbane International Draw Ceremony