Serbia worried: What's with Ana? (News Feature)

By Boris Babic Oct 10, 2008, 9:49 GMT

Belgrade - Jelena Jankovic may have reclaimed the world number one place in women's tennis, but the whole of Serbia is more concerned about Ana Ivanovic as the nation's true sweetheart totters from loss to loss.

'Fear of losing blocks Ana,' 'problems come from the head' or 'Ana should find a boyfriend' were headlines in Friday's newspapers, following her latest defeat at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

A series of defeats - six from 12 matches since winning her first Grand Slam at the French Open - have sent Ivanivic tumbling from number one on the WTA list in June, to a current fifth place.

On Wednesday, Ivanovic wasted two match points in a three-set defeat against Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in Moscow.

At the same time, Jankovic tops the WTA list for the second time in her career since Monday after winning successive titles in Beijing and Stuttgart.

Opinions on Ivanovic and advice for her were abundant, coming from former players, tennis coaches and from fans in forums.

She should 'urgently' seek out a professional to help with 'certain psychological problems' she 'obviously' has, psychologist Mladen Kostic told the daily Press. Ivanovic could benefit from a 'romance,' but also warned it could also have 'counter-effects.'

'With that you never know. If she'd fall in love too much, especially with some boy whose intentions are murky, it would create a whole new problem hampering her return to form,' Kostic said.

'I'm sure she is now unhappy, probably angry with herself because of poor results, so she really needs a good psychologist.'

Serbian tennis guru Radmilo Armenulic agreed that the problem 'is in the psyche,' but, as other former players and coaches, stressed that he is 'not worried.'

'Ana even plays fairly well, yet losses come and it frightens her - but that isn't unusual in tennis,' Armenulic told Blic. 'My advice: Ana, you must overcome it, just play much and think not of losing.'

Former Yugoslav tennis star, now president of the Serbian tennis organization, Slobodan Zivojinovic, agreed in 'no-worry' note.

'Ana suffered an unlucky injury and has had only 11 matches since Roland Garros and that is the worst for a professional tennis player,' Zivojinovic told the Vecernje Novosti daily.

'Soon something is going to snap into place, maybe next week in Zurich and she will be back.'

Ivanovic, who will turn 21 next month, simply said she 'is healthy, happy to able to be on court in the first place' and announced plans to play as 'many matches to return to old form.'