Ivanovic 法網決賽前訪問 - 溫網 Tennis

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Q. Did you sleep well?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, very good tonight. And it was hard to imagine I could do
that, but it was good.

Q. Tell me, you said yesterday that Sven Groenefeld, you are going to now
play Justine, who is with adidas, so he can't coach you anymore. Does that
mean even today, he's not going to talk to you and you'll be on your own?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes. David is going to have practice, but we can't talk about
tactics or anything like that. So basically I'm on my own. But, yeah, it's
been very great having him for a whole week -- for a whole two weeks here. So
I learned a lot. So now I can use some of these things for tomorrow.

Q. So even right after the match, he didn't see anything about the final to
you?

ANA IVANOVIC: No, no, because he's not allowed to.

Q. Have you seen Justine playing during this tournament, or maybe did you
watch any TV or videos?

ANA IVANOVIC: I saw little bit of her match yesterday. But she's -- I watched
her play before, and we played once two years ago. So for sure, I know this
is going to be very tough match. But she's a great player, and she's won this
tournament couple of times. So she's experienced also in that part.

But I think it's most important for me to relax and to play my game and try
to play the best I can. And try to use the chances, and see how it goes.

Q. Will you prepare this match emotionally, and how?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, it's -- I think it's the most difficult part, probably.
And it's very easy to say, Oh, don't be nervous and don't be emotional, but
it's a little bit harder to do it. I think nerves always exist no matter
which match you play. And once I'm on the court, it's very important for me
to think more technically and what I should play, which kind of strokes, and
not think too much about the occasion.

Q. When we talked to Sven yesterday, he said to us, She doesn't want a 24/7
relationship with a coach. She's too independent. She doesn't like that. Can
you talk a bit about your personality and why you have chosen to conduct your
career that way?

ANA IVANOVIC: Before I had couple of experience when I spent too much time
with a coach, and I didn't find it worked well for me. And it's important to
have my own space, and also, a little bit of my private life. And I think for
a relationship with a coach, it's very important to don't get too personal.
Because then it's more respect, and also, when you work with a coach, it's
very important to trust them.

So I think I have that with Sven. I really trust him, and he trust in me, so
that's why it's working very well for us. But it's nice still to have
sometimes my own space, and to spend some time on my own. And, yeah, that's
also the way I can learn the most how to deal. Because in the end of the day,
when I'm on the court, I'm alone. And I have to learn how to deal with the
emotions then.

Q. Can you also talk a bit about the role that Mr. Holzmann played. He
obviously was a very, very key person for you early in your tennis career?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, definitely. It was very important time of my life. And if
it wasn't for him, who knows what would be happening now. Because it was a
time when the situation back in Serbia wasn't so good financially. It was
very tough to support. My parents, for them, it was very tough to support me
in that way.

But, yeah, he helped me a lot, and he always believed in me, so that gave me
motivation and strength. And he's, also, I can say, a great friend of mine.
So it's very -- it's very nice to be working with him.

Q. Others in the tournament, obviously Sven was working with other players,
as well. Were there any instances maybe when you wanted his time, but
Fernando wanted his time, and he was being pulled all over the place, how did
that work?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, it's a little bit -- it's a little bit tougher when there
are more players around. But I think it's, also, we always try to adjust so
everyone can be happy. Because on the end of the day, he is there for most of
us. But he's -- most of the times, we were lucky that the times were
different, so we could practice when we wanted. So that was good.

But, yeah, as coach of adidas, I accept that that may be the case sometimes.
And, yeah, I accepted it, and we tried to work around it.

Q. Because he works for adidas, does that mean you get him for free? Sorry,
that's a bit personal question, but do you get him for free?

ANA IVANOVIC: That's the job of my managers, so I don't get involved in that
part.

Q. Do you have a relationship with Justine at all? Do you ever talk to her in
the locker room?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, not really, because I also try not to spend too much time
around the club. I just practice and try to go back in the room, relax a
little bit. So I haven't really spent much time around here. I think she does
the same thing. And we also played different days, so we didn't have chance
to see each other much.

Q. And you talk about that you really need your private time away from
tennis. Can you describe what you're doing in that private time and sort of
your relationship with your family.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I have a very close relationship with my family,
especially with my brother. He is one of my biggest supporters. And I like to
spend time with him. And when we are back home, you know, sometimes we even
play basketball with him, and even Playstation, just so I can spend some time
with him.

But, yeah, when I'm traveling, it's a little bit harder. Because it's hard to
keep in touch sometimes with a friend. They go to school. We have different
time schedules. But I try always to phone them and just catch up for a little
bit. And if I'm in my room, just to read a book or watch a DVD or listen to
music.

Q. At what point did you realize that you didn't want to have a coach 24/7,
that you really needed that time away? Was there a specific thing that
happened that made you realize you just wanted to push people a away a little
bit?

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, beginning of this year, I had the experience where the
relationship with the coach became a little bit too personal, and it was a
little bit tough for, me as well. So I wanted to try a little bit on my own.
And that was also not a solution, because sometimes you need someone who can
point things out for you.

And I have found a perfect situation with Sven. He's helpful. He's really
helpful. And he also helps sometimes other players, so he's not there 100% of
the time, but as basically as much as I need him.

And it's great to have such an experienced coach. So it's working really well
for me. I still have enough time on my own. And it's still a little bit my
private life is separate, so that's important.

Q. What do you remember about your previous match against Justine, and why do
you think she's so strong?

ANA IVANOVIC: Last time we played was two years ago. It was my first year on
the tour. And it's been a while now. So it's very hard to remember how the
match went.

But I watched her play a lot, and she's great, especially on the clay. And
she has such also powerful game, and she's a great mover. So it's very hard
to point some weaknesses in her game. But still, I think, I have some -- my
forehand is good; my serve, it's also working very well. So I'm going to try
my best against her best, and see who wins.

Q. The way you stormed to the top, is almost the same or similar to
Justine's. When she was 19, she played her first Grand Slam final, and she
was No. 7 in the world. Could she be an example? Is that a coincidence, or
would you sign up to do the same evolution in your career?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I could sign then. No, she achieved same match. I didn't
know about it. It's interesting. She achieved so much. And she can be really
happy and proud of herself.

And I would love to achieve what she did so far.

Q. Tomorrow's match will be the most important of your career so far. But
before this one, what was the most important moment of your career?

ANA IVANOVIC: Probably yesterday (laughing). It was -- it's going to be very,
very important match tomorrow. But all the matches I played so far gave me a
lot of experience. So I was in a situation for the first time in a semifinal
yesterday. So, yeah, I know I can little bit realize how it feels. But still,
it's a first time finals. So, yeah, I just want to enjoy it and try to get
the best out of it.

Q. In school, are you still studying, and what did you study already?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, I have still a few more exams until I finish high school.
And it's a touristic high school, general high school. And I hope I can do
that in the next few months. And probably my goal is to sign university,
maybe a little bit from September. Because I think it's very important to
keep doing school as well. And I reminded school, so I want to start a little
bit as well, and just something else to do.

Q. You did that photo shoot a couple of days ago near the Eiffel Tower. Had
you been to the Eiffel Tower before?

ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, this is my maybe fifth or sixth time in Paris. And I
visited the first few times I was here. It's such an historical city, and I
really like to visit it. And it's -- it's a beautiful city, really, to spend
some time and walk around. And there are so many things to see.

Q. Do you think the public could have an importance on the match, and what
about you?

ANA IVANOVIC: Oh, for sure it can, because the crowd can sometimes really
help, help you to get through the matches. And so far they've been really
great. And they've been great supporters. And I hope the atmosphere tomorrow
will be good again, and that we're going to have a great match.

Q. Yesterday, during Justine's match, she had some notes from her coach, and
she was reading them sometimes during the changeovers. So if Sven is not
allowed to talk to you can he write some notes for you, as well?

ANA IVANOVIC: No, no, no, he can't. He just can't help me in that way at all.
And it's a little bit pity in some way, because it's a great achievement of
my life, and it's a pity he can't really help me for tomorrow's match.

But he really -- whole week, whole two weeks, he's been on my side, and it's
been really good.

So, yeah, I just have a little bit picture in my head the way I should play,
and just relax, and basically enjoy.

Q. Because you have other interests outside tennis, and your studies, and you
seem to be, you know, very mature person, do you have a time scale for your
career? Do you think you'll end up like Kim, maybe, ending her career early?
Or have you not thought about that?

ANA IVANOVIC: No, I haven't really thought. I'm just in the beginning of my
career, so it's very hard to think about the end. But, yeah, I've been really
interesting in some parts also behind tennis. And I think it's very important
to keep balance, because sometimes you need something to get away from
tennis, and do something different. And, yes, so you can achieve more into
tennis when you play again and practice again.

But, I'm really lucky to be doing what I like. And I really hope it's going
to last for a long time.

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