Ana Ivanovic, the girl that is almost forgotten after the year of disappointing results, believe it or not, still works hard hoping to return back in the game. She recently gave an interview to her clothing sponsor adidas, focusing on training and fitness. I really, but really hope with all my heart that all this time off and practicing will help her find her way back. I miss her, I even miss her "first pump"!

Here is the interview taken from Ana's website:

My favorite workout is... my least favorite is...
I love this warm-up game I sometimes play with my trainer: we have a Swiss ball and we each stand on opposite sides of the court. You have to catch the ball and then throw it to the other end, and if it bounces twice on the opponent’s side you win the point.

Another game I enjoy is a little similar: catchball with a modified Aussie Rules football. My trainer and I simply throw the ball to each other. It’s a good exercise for strengthening the shoulders.

My least favourite training activity would have to be running up stairs.

I hate...
Before breakfasts (BBs)! Actually, I don’t really hate them, but not many people enjoy exercising so early in the morning and some days it can be tough to motivate yourself to do it, but I never skip them.

I love...
Competing on the court. Even in practice, my favourite thing to do is to play a set. What I love most about tennis is competing.


To get in shape I do...
Many different activities! I spend time in the gym using the standard cardio and resistance weight training machines, but I also do a lot of different things, for example using bungee ropes and playing catchball with an Aussie Rules football.

I prepare myself for big tournaments with...
For me, the biggest tournaments are obviously the Grand Slams, and I like to play a tournament two weeks before, and then to spend the week before the Grand Slam practising, fine-tuning my game. The main exception to this is Wimbledon, where I always play a tournament the week before, because the grass court season is so short.

My favorite workout location is...
It’s not the biggest work-out, but sometimes for fun I play beach volleyball with my team. I love the beach, so it’s hard to beat. I also love Noosa National Park. I sometimes go running there during the off-season.

What do you wear when you are doing your off court training and which is your favorite piece?
adidas have a great women’s line. The clothing is very feminine and suits my style. They have many lightweight pieces that are perfect for training. I especially like some of the white or purple warm-up tops.

Do you have a specific nutrition plan right before / during / after tournaments?
My diet is constant – not really geared towards tournaments. Instead I eat healthily the whole year through. I have a low-fat diet, especially avoiding fried foods, and I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. I prefer rice to pasta, and chicken to beef. But being from Serbia, it’s hard to resist a nice steak very occasionally! Of course, fish is a great low-fat, high-protein food and I eat quite a lot of it.

Have you got any amulet or charm that you usually wear when you play?
I have a few pieces of jewellery that I wear on court. I used to wear a necklace that my grandparents gave me but it started to bother me a little during matches, so now I just wear earrings, especially some that have sentimental value.

How do you treat yourself after a hard session?
An important part of my training regime is recovery. Sometimes it’s not so fun, for example, ice baths! But I also have a lot of massages, and obviously they’re quite relaxing. But I guess the best reward is to have a very nice dinner at the end of a long day of training, and to relax in a restaurant with my team, friends and family.

What's your top tip to get the perfect summer body?
Training can get boring if you keep doing the same thing. I love to have as much variety as possible. In the past few years I’ve tried some really fun activities like surfing, swimming, mountain biking and even kick-boxing. That would be my main advice: try some new activities and keep it fun! If it’s enjoyable, your motivation to train is higher.


(source: Ana Ivanovic)

Ana Ivanovic's Interview for Adidas