Bummer.
Posted by gauloises1 on January 29, 2010
According to the Net Post:
Ana Ivanovic’s second-round defeat to Gisella Dulko was greeted with the predictable moans, groans and worries about the Serbian’s state of game and mind. What was not known – probably because she didn’t want to make it seem like an excuse – was that she had torn a glute muscle and had only been able to practise properly for four hours in the ten days before the event. The next time, perhaps, the 22-year-old will decide that letting people know that she is not properly fit is not a sign of weakness and could help prevent far less harsh headlines than those she was forced to endure.
So … 2010 not really starting all that well for Ana, then. Poor girl.
Livin’ In Pain | Mind The Racket said
[...] had a torn glute and practiced a whopping 4 hours in the 10 days before AO. Just when things were getting better. [...]
Stephanie Myles said
I watched her practice more than that in a few days during the Australian Open. I guess it wasn’t “proper” practice. Not saying it isn’t true, just that there was absolutely no sign of it on the practice court.
Liva said
A newish person’s opinion (2nd comment on this lovely site):
Top players play at top levels while injured, i.e. Nadal and Serena. As well, top players conditioning should preclude injuries like significant muscle tears, i.e. Roger (unless he has miracle healing powers).
Maybe her PR team (Adidas) should have disclosed, but what is she doing that she tears a glute? Ana needs to get the conditioning, mind/focus and technical skills working in concert for sustained top performance. Tennis is a hard ass sport and I somewhat see her closer to Anna Kournikova on the sliding scale tennis greatness.
lauren said
I guess she should start wearing heavy strapping a la Serena, just so that if things go wrong she’s already sown the reason for a loss in the journo’s heads. And if things go well and she reaches the final, no-one will ever stop to ask her why she’s swaddled like a mummy.
LIva said
Surely you don’t infer possum-like gamesmanship on Serena’s part? Lauren, so well stated!
Jabberwocky said
Great that someone said that.