Ana Ivanovic believes she is playing better now than two years ago.
That's a strange statement from the woman who has slumped from No. 1 in the world in 2008 to No. 21 and who fell out in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.
The 22-year-old Ivanovic, who made the final here two years ago, said one of her problems is wasting mental energy on court rather than playing by instinct.
``I think I'm striking the ball better now than I did in 2008 or any previous years,'' she said after her 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 loss to Argentina's Gisela Dulko.
``Also, you know, my movement is getting there. It's just that expectation that sometimes I put on myself, and it's very overwhelming. I use so much energy,'' she said. ``And then when it counts the most, I'm behind. So I just have to find that balance.''
The Serbian was a rising star in 2007, runner-up at the French Open and a semifinalist at Wimbledon.
After losing the 2008 Australian Open final to Maria Sharapova, she made her Grand Slam breakthrough by winning the French Open, confirming her talent and enhancing glamorous image.
Ivanovic hasn't made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam since, and and did not win a tournament at all in 2009.
She went out in the third round of last year's Australian Open, then later succumbed to her first-ever first-round loss at a major at the U.S. Open. She finished outside the top 20 after struggling late in the season with injuries.
``I had heaps of little injuries that constantly kept showing up, so I really couldn't work consistently on anything,'' Ivanovic said, ruling a line under the 2009 season. ``It was always a few days on court and then off the court.''
Ivanovic wants to return to the top 10, and knows the loss to Dulko is a setback.
``It hurts, I must say, but it's a process,'' she said. ``I just have to be patient. It will take some time. I do feel better on the court. I feel like my old self. There are still some areas that are not there for me to rely on.''
Dulko twice served for the match in the third set but Ivanovic rallied, breaking her twice to get back on serve at 5-4 down, needing to hold to stay in the match.
She couldn't. Two double-faults in the last game didn't help Ivanovic's cause, and Dulko finally converted on her sixth match point.
Ivanovic said she needs to keep her focus when she's playing well.
``I start well and I play good. I just go out there to enjoy,'' she said. ``Then I think I can play like this all the time. Then I get tense and I start making mistakes because I want to play like that.''
Ivanovic didn't seem too upset by the loss, insisting she is improving her game even as she has become aware of the importance of relaxing off the court.
Between seasons, Ivanovic spent time in Australia with golfer Adam Scott, who has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world but had a rough season in '09 before winning the Australian Open in December, ending a title drought.
Ivanovic was only half joking ahead of the tennis version of the Australian Open when she said she wanted to replicate that feat.
Before coming to Australia, she'd taken weeks off to spend time with family and friends in Belgrade, and investigate hobbies.
``I still have to find things that's going to make me relax. I really like reading and watching movies but sometimes I spend too much time in the room; that's not good either,'' she laughed. ``Just find something, go for a walk, just to keep your mind off of tennis, surround yourself with positive people.''
