TENNIS.com - 2008 French Open - Major Mark: New No. 1 Ivanovic wins first Slam title

Click here for thoughts on the difference between Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova on Peter Bodo's TennisWorld.

By Kamakshi Tandon

By winning her first Grand Slam and reaching No. 1 in the world, Ana Ivanovic proved that she is indeed tough enough to reach the top of women's tennis.

© Jacques Demarthon/AFP Getty

PARIS—It was a moment which perfectly captured the steep and rapid climb Ana Ivanovic has made to the top of women's tennis in the past year.

Just 12 months ago, she had stood on the same platform as a surprise finalist who had been so overcome with nerves that she managed just three games against top seed Justine Henin. This time around, Ivanovic was a freshly-minted No. 1 who prevailed 6-4, 6-3 to win her maiden Grand Slam title against another surprise finalist, Dinara Safina. And it was Henin, who retired suddenly a few weeks ago, who was now placing the French Open trophy in her hands for the first time.

"When she handed me the trophy, it was a very thrilling moment," said Ivanovic, who had not known the Belgian was going to be present for the final. "She said, 'Well done, you really deserve it.' It meant a lot to me."

This tournament marks a major milestone for the Serb. She came into Paris as the tour's bridesmaid but leaves as its newest pedigree player, joining Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Amelie Mauresmo in an elite group of active players who have won a Grand Slam and been ranked No. 1.

Ivanovic, 20, clinched the No. 1 ranking after a fierce battle with compatriot and rival Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals, becoming the 17th WTA player to hold the top spot and the first Serbian to do so. Two days later, she has become the first Serbian woman to win a Grand Slam, and the second Serbian player to do so after Novak Djokovic's victory at the Australian Open in January.

The title also helps put aside doubts about Ivanovic's mental strength. Questions about whether the sweet-natured Serb was too nice to win big titles increased earlier this year after she again struggled to produce a good performance against Sharapova in the Australian Open final.

But Ivanovic believes her experiences against Henin in Paris and Sharapova in Melbourne helped her to be ready for Saturday's match. "Obviously there was a lot of emotions inside, but till the last point I tried to not think about the occasion and just focus on my tennis," she said. "So I was really happy I managed to do that today.

The tournament also marked a significant achievement for losing finalist Safina. By winning her first Tier I event in Berlin last month and now reaching her first Grand Slam final in Paris, she has shaken off some of her reputation for being a player unable to produce consistent performances. "I just want to take all the experience that I had and just to even work harder," said Safina. "Because now I believe in everything, so I just want to be even more tough on myself."

Having spent most of her career in the shadow of older brother Marat Safin, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1, 22-year-old Safina went a long way towards establishing her own name at this event. She defeated top seed Sharapova in the fourth round, coming back from a set and 5-2 down and saving a match point along the way. In the quarterfinals, she again came from a set and 5-2 down against Elena Dementieva, and again saved a match point. By this time, Safina was fast emerging as the story of the women's event, and set the stage for a storybook ending by defeating a third straight Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the semifinals.

Even though the dream finish didn't materialize on Saturday, Safina was happy with her breakout clay season. "After how bad I had [done at the] beginning of the season, [if] somebody would tell me you'll be winning the Tier 1 tournament and being in the final of the Grand Slam, I'd say, 'God, are you kidding or what?'"

She too was surprised to see Henin, who sat in the front row and was easily spotted in a bright pink blazer. Just as for Ivanovic, the Belgian's presence was significant for Safina, whose recent run began when she defeated Henin in the third round of Berlin. It turned out to be the last match of Henin's career.

"She just said, 'Keep on going,'" said Safina. "But definitely I will not stop, and push even harder now."

Ivanovic also plans to embrace the increased expectations that will come with her success. "Obviously, being No. 1 now holds more pressure," she said. "But you're also a professional athlete, and if you want to achieve your goals you have to learn how to handle the pressure and realize that pressure is also a kind of reward, because you put yourself to in a position to do something memorable."

IVANOVIC HANGS TOUGH AGAINST TIRING SAFINA

Like Ana Ivanovic last year, Dinara Safina is determined to build on her surprise run to the French Open final.

© Jacques Demarthon/AFP Getty

Both players made a clean start to Saturday's match, hitting more winners than errors, and it was Ivanovic who capitalized on Safina's subdued serving and quickly went up 4-1 in the first set. But Safina has been the queen of comebacks at this event and hit back once again, and errors began to creep into Ivanovic's play as Safina clawed back to 4-4.

The remainder of the set was a battle, with both players playing a scratchy game as Ivanovic broke to go up 5-4. Serving to clinch, Ivanovic began hitting out freely with her forehand again and found the court enough times to win her first set in a Grand Slam final. "Since I was a kid I always had that forehand, and I always hit it very hard," said Ivanovic.

Ivanovic broke again early in the third and again to finish the match in an hour and 38 minutes, becoming increasingly dominant during the baseline rallies as Safina tired after her efforts earlier in the week.

But it was still an entertaining match by the insipid standards of recent years - no women's final has gone three sets since 2001.

A long and varied baseline rally in the third game of the second set drew sustained applause when Ivanovic came up with a skilful dropshot to win the point. The two also battled fiercely to hold serve in the sixth and seventh games, with Ivanovic hitting a backhand winner to save break point at 3-2 and giving one of her increasingly frequent fist pumps.

"It was a huge point, and I was very aware of it," said Ivanovic. "I was really happy I stepped up and won that game. That was something that gave me confidence in that second set, because in the beginning of that second set I thought I lost concentration for a bit."

Safina ended with a whimper, losing the last seven points of the match and getting broken to love in the final game.

"If I would be just a little bit fresher it would be different, because I spend way too much hours like for those two matches against Maria and Elena," said Safina.

Ana Ivanovic on TENNIS.com

• TennisWorld: Service With a Smile May 2008
• Serbian Double: Djokovic, Ivanovic win IW Mar 2008
• Miami Mailbag: Ana Ivanovic Mar 2008
• Glam Slam: Sharapova, Ivanovic in AO final Jan 2008
• She Said, She Said: Ivanovic & Jankovic Sep 2007
• Tennis magazine: The Vitches Sep 2007
• TennisWorld: Swimming to Slambodia Jun 2007
• Aussie Ana: Ivanovic's guide to Melbourne Jan 2007

She said it was tiredness, not nerves, which prevented her from making a stronger showing in her first Grand Slam final. "I was a bit nervous, but then once I stepped on the court, actually I felt pretty good," she said. "It was just missing just a little bit more reaction... she was much fresher and what I had to do to her, she was doing this to me."

Safina described Ivanovic's noisy friends box as "a little bit annoying with the 'adjes' [the Serbian equivalent of 'C'mon']" in her post-match speech, but revealed she also felt a pinprick of disappointment when she glanced up at her own section and didn't see Marat sitting there. "Somehow I thought that he might come, but unfortunately he didn't," Safina shrugged.

Ivanovic excused her supporters, saying, "They get as emotional as I do." Not known as a demonstrative player, she has pumped her fist and exhorted herself with 'Adje!' after nearly every important point during her past couple of matches. "Lately I say quite few 'C'mons' as well because I'm working with coaches that I speak English with, and people back home I don't think they like that that much," she laughed.

But after the fortnight she's had, no one back home will be complaining any longer.