By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 30, 2016
"I feel like I have potential and game, but it hasn't really been coming together," Ana Ivanovic said.
Photo credit: Getty
NEW YORK—Taking shadow swings between points, Ana Ivanovic looked eager to unleash her sweeping forehand.
Lining up that shot on set point, Ivanovic's swing was more flat than fluid leaving her blinking her eyes in disappointment.
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The former world No. 1 squandered a 5-3 first-set lead and a set point at 6-5 and then things really got unsightly.
Denisa Allertova pounced on those lapses powering through seven of the next eight games bouncing Ivanovic out of the US Open first round, 7-6 (4), 6-1.
Instead of the clarity required for the power player to pull the trigger at critical stages, Ivanovic concedes her thoughts are cloudy.
The result was her second straight US Open first-round exit and her fourth first-round fall in her last eight Grand Slam appearances.
Sagging confidence contributed to Ivanovic's fourth consecutive first-round loss.
"Probably confidence (was the difference)," Ivanovic said afterward. "You know, I had that set point, you know, and I went for my big forehand and it was quite a bad miss because I was a little bit in two minds what to do with it. I think it was just, yeah, a little bit of confidence at that moment to close out the set."
The day after fellow former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki used her legs and scrappy court coverage squeezing out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Taylor Townsend, Ivanovic fell apart after a solid start to the opening set.
In the past, a stray service toss has caused headaches for Ivanovic.
This season, her favored forehand has misfired at critical stages leaving Ivanovic feeling her best weapon has become a bit unreliable.
Ivanovic committed 41 unforced errors, 20 more than her opponent, with 19 coming from her forehand wing as well as seven double faults.
"It's been very frustrating that throughout the year I felt like my forehand has actually been letting me down, and that's something that's my biggest strength," Ivanovic said. "I really feel like I have to, yeah, reassess, because like I said, I have been putting so many hours on court and in the gym in particular trying to get my body healthy.
"Last year I ended up with very, very bad back, and this year it hasn't been coming back because I worked so hard at it. It's just like I said, I haven't been really rewarded for my hard work. This is something that I have to sort of accept it and, you know, try to actually see why is that happening, you know, and what I can do differently."
A year ago, Ivanovic was riding high reaching the Roland Garros semifinals and rising to No. 7.
The 2008 Roland Garros champion has experienced personal joy this season—she married longtime fiancé Bastian Schweinsteiger in Venice six weeks ago—but Ana has run out of answers.
Since defeating third-ranked Simona Halep en route to the Dubai quarterfinals, Ivanovic has struggled to a 9-11 record and says it's time to make changes.
"I really feel like I have to, yeah, reassess, because like I said, I have been putting so many hours on court and in the gym in particular trying to get my body healthy," Ivanovic said. "Last year I ended up with very, very bad back, and this year it hasn't been coming back because I worked so hard at it. It's just like I said, I haven't been really rewarded for my hard work. This is something that I have to sort of accept it and, you know, try to actually see why is that happening, you know, and what I can do differently."
Sometimes, players put so much into training and chasing results, self-imposed pressure can be counter-productive. Ivanovic suggested simplifying her approach and stream-lining her team is a consideration to snap her slump.
"I feel like I have potential and game, but it hasn't really been coming together," Ivanovic said. "Like I said, it's not like I don't work. I really put a lot of hard work. I had four people traveling with me trying to make sure I'm on the right path and doing the right things.
"Before when I traveled with one or two persons I was doing much better. You know, these other things that can I have these are the things I have to think about."