Once a Slam winner, always a Slam winner—maybe that's why we're always wondering when Juan Martin del Potro will "return to form," or why we always called a well-past-his-prime and unseeded Marat Safin "dangerous," or why we insist on reminding that Ana Ivanovic a "former French Open champion," even though almost any serious tennis fan would know that.
We do this because, at one point in time, we saw that particular players' game as superior to everyone else's. It was good, and we want to see that again. Those who watched Ivanovic dismantle Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday night, 6-3, 6-2, may have seen the closest the Serb has come to resembling the player who won Roland Garros in 2008.
Ivanovic's elastic forehand was a devastating shot against the Dane, and Yonex would be wise to acquire the video from this match for its promotional efforts. Here's the thing: We knew Ivanovic would get chances to take cuts against Wozniacki, who simply doesn't force her opponents off their best shots. But in addition to making Wozniacki pay for such a strategy, Ivanovic did damage even in less-than-optimal positions. Her forehand had range, was accurate, and always seemed to challenge Wozniacki. Of all the shots I've watched thus far at Indian Wells, Ivanovic's forehand, on this night, was the most impressive.
The barrage made Woznaicki, defensive-minded to begin with, look even more feeble. She defeated Ivanovic recently in Dubai, but a few points into the second set, you could tell that that result was getting reversed. So could Ivanovic, who celebrated most points by looking towards her box, pointing and reassuring them.
She peaked when returning serve up 4-2 in the second set, striking two clean return winners up the line, with Wozniacki barely able to react. On break point, an entertaining rally demanded that someone end it with a winner. Ivanovic obliged, not with her forehand, but with a sharply-angled drop volley. Ivanovic reacted with utter joy, then served out the match at love. It was that kind of night for the Serb with an often sketchy serve.
What Ivanovic fans must hope for is that more efforts like this one will come. All things considered, Ivanovic has had a nice year so far, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and losing to mostly high-quality opponents. She'll face another one them in the quarterfinals, Marion Bartoli. The former Wimbledon finalist, Marion Bartoli, that is.
—Ed McGrogan