Ana Ivanovic played at Ashe Stadium for just the second time in her career yesterday, but that total will grow and grow.
The 19-year-old rising star, part of the Serbian tennis revolution, is on a collision course for a fourth-round showdown vs. 12th-seeded Venus Williams under the Ashe lights.
Ivanovic rolled into the third round with a 6-3, 6-1 smacking of Aravane Rezai of France. Venus also won with ease, 6-4, 6-2 over soft-serving Ioana Raluca.
“It’s not a big secret that this part of the draw is much harder,” Ivanovic said. “There’s many good players. Also, hopefully I can win my next match and then play against Venus again. We had a tough one in Wimbledon just a few months ago.”
Despite her 12th seed, Venus, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is shaping up as a favorite to get through the harsh side of the draw. Williams has looked razor-sharp in both her wins, and got in 81 percent of her first serves.
She took out Ivanovic 6-2, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals.
“I definitely feel like I’m on a roll,” Venus said.
While Ivanovic is the budding Serbian sex symbol, Williams revealed she thinks she can hold her own in that department, too.
When asked what she would do if not a tennis player, Venus responded, “I have to work hard to keep my weight on. I’d be even thinner if I wasn’t playing tennis. I’d probably be modeling somewhere.”
Nerves could be Ivanovic’s undoing. She is up to No. 5 in the world after making the French Open final and Wimbledon semis. But Venus has owned Ashe Stadium since she burst onto the scene 10 years ago and made the finals in her first Open.
Ivanovic-Venus could be a weekend night extravaganza.
“It’s definitely a great atmosphere,” said Ivanovic, who first takes on Vera Dushevina in the third round. “It’s different. That’s the biggest stadium we have playing tennis. Once you’re on the court, it builds you up and gives you energy to play harder.”
Ivanovic is starting to get noticed around New York.
“I notice a difference,” she said. “Last night going for dinner a couple of people came to me and said, ‘Oh, good luck tomorrow.’ So it was actually amazing to have that experience.”
Earlier this year, Ivanovic said one fan asked if she could autograph his underwear. Two days ago, Ivanovic had a similarly bizarre request from a smitten fan.
“The guy asked me to sign his forehead,” Ivanovic said. “I was like, are you kidding? I didn’t [sign]. I felt bad for him walking with a sign. I say, ‘I can sign your ball or shirt, but forehead?’ ”
Williams is starting to feel her oats. She hasn’t won the Open since 2001. Last year, she didn’t play because of a wrist injury.
“All my expectations are very high going into every tournament,” Venus said. “I’m definitely trying to come out with a win. I want to be the last one standing with a plate over my head. That’s my goal every time.”
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Biggest upset on women’s side came with Julia Vakulenko beat No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Brit Tim Henman was potentially playing his final Grand Slam match but avoided the end as he topped No. 27 seed Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The British press is calling Henman’s final run among the biggest tennis stories in the country’s history – a sad commentary.
There’s a new sign in the press room, reminding reporters not to gamble on tennis matches. The sign is up in the wake of the Nikolay Davydenko scandal.
John Isner, the 6-9 former Georgia Bulldog, advanced to the third round with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win over Rik De Voest at Louis Armstrong Stadium and would play top-seeded Roger Federer, a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 winner last night over Paul Capdeville.
“I don’t know much about him,” Isner joked of Federer as he walked off the court. “Is he any good?”
Seventh-seeded Fernando Gonzalez fell to Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.