By Blair Henley

(September 4, 2012) -- It’s hard to believe Ana Ivanovic is only 24 years old. Perhaps because it seems like ages ago that the statuesque Serb rose to tennis superstardom with two Grand Slam final appearances followed by a French Open win in 2008.

To put things in perspective, Ivanovic fist-pumped her way to the world No. 1 ranking around the same time as Dinara Safina. Remember her? She was the moody Russian who fell off the tennis grid and retired in 2011 at the age of 25. 

Facing a comparable rankings slide and frequent injuries, Ivanovic could have easily suffered the same, calamitous fate. A recent Sports Illustrated story elaborated on her plight:

“She's been criticized to the point of caricature for vulnerabilities. (She can't serve, she can't stay healthy, she switches out coaches as if they come wrapped in cellophane.)”

But instead of responding to the harsh media spotlight by pulling a "Safina," Ivanovic has continued to project positivity in the face of a four-year crisis of confidence. Now, it seems, she’s reaping the benefits of her persistence (and her perpetually sunny disposition) with her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance since her title run at Roland Garros. Of course, just because she’s glimpsed a light at the end of a long, winding tunnel doesn’t mean she’s enjoyed the ride.

When asked what she would have done in 2008 if someone told her it would be four more years before she reached another Grand Slam quarterfinal, Ivanovic laughed, answering, “Take four years holidays.”

Despite clawing her way back to the top 15 after her ranking dipped into the mid-60’s in 2010, Ivanovic’s success at the U.S. Open was by no means something the pundits predicted. Just three weeks ago, she suffered an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 loss to then No. 28 Roberta Vinci. Days later, doctors discovered a tear in her right foot, forcing her to take five days of complete rest and withdraw from Cincinnati.

The fact that she’s bounced back with such intensity suggests Ivanovic has learned a thing or two from her host of embarrassing losses and injuries over the past several years. Her 20’s have been, in essence, on big character building experience, and she’s not letting it go to waste.

Whether or not she can hold her own against Serena Williams when they take the court Wednesday is another issue altogether, but Ivanovic has proven she’s not just a pretty face. We can only assume that her wait to get back into the top tier of professional tennis makes her U.S. Open run that much sweeter.

(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)