Ana Ivanovic has hired coach Antonio van Grichen on a trial basis through at least the Australian hard-court season. The Serbian, who ended last year ranked No. 17 after winning the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, had been working with Steffi Graf’s former coach Heinz Gunthardt, but he no longer wanted to travel full-time and they ended their relationship in the fall.
Former No. 1 Ivanovic has also worked with coach Craig Kardon, as well as adidas Player Development coaches Sven Groeneveld, Darren Cahill and Mats Merkel.
Portugal's Van Grichen is best known for coaching Victoria Azarenka to No. 6 in the world, and enjoyed brief stints with Vera Zvonareva and Sorana Cirstea.
Last December, Azarenka hired Zvonareva’s former longtime coach, Sam Sumyk, while Van Grichen took over coaching Zvonareva. The switch lasted only three months as Zvonareva admittedly had a hard time with Sumyuk's decision to part with her. The Russian actually broke down in tears and was motioning towards Sumyk last January when Zvonareva faced Azarenka in Dubai.
A little over two months later, Zvonareva dismissed Van Grichen at Indian Wells and said that she planned on going coach-less, but she eventually hired her childhood friend and former junior mixed doubles partner, Sergey Demekhin, who helped coach her to a career high No. 2 ranking.
Ivanovic will open her 2011 campaign at the Hopman Cup.—Matthew Cronin