"Serbian women’s tennis have a chance to reach the FED Cup’s World Group II as early as on Sunday afternoon. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic – world’s players number two and five respectively – will be backed by youngsters Ana Jankovic and Teodora Mircic and stand as firm favourites to take the play-off tie in Zagreb against Croatia."

As one of the strongest sides in the world, Serbia will need to fight for their place in the World Group II in the Zagreb Dom Sportova arena, the hosting venue of the weekend rubbers. After the Friday’s draw procedures the match-ups in all rubbers will be known. Serbia team say they have been pleasantly surprised by warm welcome of the host nation, which will not be counted on during the matches themselves.
- “We’re really familiar with the Croatian players’ strengths. FED Cup is a lot different from regular tournaments over the year, the atmosphere will be terrific and it’s sure to be an interesting tie. Unfortunately, we still haven’t found the time to tour the city, but as far as I could see so far, it resembles Belgrade a lot. It’s been all great here so far and I hope it stays like that until the end,” says Serbian number one Ana Ivanovic.
Together with Ivanovic, ranked second in the world, Serbia’s biggest asset in the play-off tie against Croatia will be Jelena Jankovic, who says she knows the Croatian players well.
- “We’re great friends. We’ll hang out before and after the matches, but we’ll be the fiercest possible opponents on court. May the best win. This is our first chance to enter the World Group, and this is the second time we’re playing at full strength. We’re one of the rare teams to have two team players from the WTA top ten. I hope we have a chance to win the FED Cup,” says Jankovic.
Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have attracted considerable media attention in Zagreb, being dubbed “dream team of women’s tennis”. Due to a traffic jam Jelena Jankovic was late for the press conference ahead of the play-off tie.
Members of Croatian press mentioned the fact Serbia have three players among the top five in both men’s and women’s tours.
- “It is surely a tremendous success, because we didn’t have proper conditions in Serbia to progress as players, but all of us tried hard to make it and I’m enormously proud of how we’re doing, and by the fact we motivate each other to be even better. I just hope many more talented spring out of Serbia in the future,” said Ana Ivanovic at the press conference.
- “It’s really hard to pinpoint one reason why we’ve achieved all this. It’s hard to explain how and why this Serbian tennis boom happened. We’re all very young and there are many more years ahead of playing tennis and we’re highly motivated to realize our dreams,” says Ivanovic.

(via blic.co.yu)

Mighty girls of Serbia