Ana Ivanovic is returning to headline Brisbane International 2010.
The young Serbian star and former French Open champion said she looks forward coming back to Brisbane.
“I am very excited to go back to Brisbane. I really enjoyed playing there and I love competing in Australia,” Ivanovic said.
“I have relatives in Melbourne so every year I look forward to it. It is one of my favourite parts of the year going down under.
“The people are very friendly and open and I love the culture –you know going to the beach early in the morning. Everyone is just so relaxed and easy going and laid back and that is what I really like.”
A delighted Brisbane International Tournament Director, Steve Ayles, announced the coup today.
“Ana’s choice to return to the Brisbane International is the ultimate endorsement for the event and the city,” Ayles said.
“We plan to put on one of the best events in the world of tennis and with the addition of Ana; we have not only a fantastic player but a real crowd favourite.
“She is a terrific person and if last year is anything to go by the Queensland public love her as much as she loves Brisbane.”
Ivanovic broke through for her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in 2008 after making the final of the Australian Open the same year.
Currently ranked No.11 she reached No. 1 on 9 June 2008 following her performance at the French Open.
She was also a finalist at Roland Garros in 2007 and her best results at the other Grand Slams include making the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2007 and a fourth round appearance at the US Open in the same year.
Ivanovic has won eight Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles and five ITF women’s circuit singles titles. She was a junior Wimbledon runner-up in 2004 and a US Open Series Champion in 2006. She is also the UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia.
At the Brisbane International last year, Ivanovic reached the quarterfinals, as the top seed, before being defeated by the No.5 seed Amelie Mauresmo, 6-3 6-2.
At just five, inspired by Monica Seles on television, Ivanovic began tennis after begging her parents to take her to the local tennis school in Belgrade. She developed her game practicing in an empty Belgrade swimming pool, before stepping onto the circuit in 2003.
She is an offensive baseliner who is noted for her aggressive play with her greatest strength her powerful forehand which has long been considered to be one of the best in the game.
The 21 year old adorns a postage stamp in Serbia and Serbian president Boris Tadic has been a guest at her birthday.
The last time Ivanovic visited Brisbane she was romantically linked to Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco. Since then Ivanovic has been rumored to be dating Australian golfer Adam Scott whom she met at the start of 2009 in Noosa, Australia.
Brisbane International 2010 series packages are on sale now with single sessions available on 14 October. Ground passes remain $9.90 with the qualifying event on Friday 1–2 January 2010 remaining free.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.