August 25, 2007 /
As the US Open draws near,
we take a look back at how Ana fared at last year’s event:
Entering the 2006 U.S. Open, Ana was riding an unprecedented wave of confidence, having recently captured her first Tier I level championship at the Roger’s Cup in Montreal, a win which also propelled her to the U.S. Open Series title. The ever-increasing buzz surrounding Ana’s budding talent and radiant personality further earned Ana a debut spot on American television where she made an appearance on ESPN’s morning show “Cold Pizza” just prior to the start of the year’s final Grand Slam. Ana faced a difficult first round match-up in Vera Dushevina, a rangy Russian whose career already included a victory over Ana a year earlier in Dubai. After cruising to take the first set 6-3 with the aid of 17 winners, Ana inadvertently took her foot off the gas and abandoned her aggressive style, thereby permitting Dushevina to stay in the match, which she did by fighting to win the second set 7-5 and even things up. In a battle of wills, the third set was a neck-and-neck affair with each player holding serve until Dushevina toed the line at 4-5. However, a blazing forehand winner by Ana and a timely double fault by Dushevina swiftly granted Ana a pair of match points. A brilliant stretch-volley by Ana on her first match point sealed the victory. “It definitely wasn’t my best tennis,” Ana candidly stated afterwards. “I was a little bit nervous because it was the first round of a Grand Slam.” Having narrowly escaped a tough first round opponent, Japan’s Aiko Nakamura awaited in the second round. This time Ana stumbled out of the gates and immediately found herself down 5-2 to the world No. 76, who was displaying tenacious retrieving skills and forcing Ana into some uncharacteristic unforced errors. Never one to back down, the teenager abruptly raised her game and managed to break serve in the ninth game to save the set. Minutes later, Ana claimed her fifth straight game to steal the opening set 7-5. Ana’s steady play continued in the second set, where she broke Nakamura’s service on two occasions, including at 3-5 when Ana teed off on a forehand return for a winner on match point. Ana’s third round opponent was none other than seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. The perpetually unpredictable tennis-diva erased any early doubts concerning her tournament toughness – Williams had only played in four tournaments in 2006 – by racing out to a 6-2 first set victory. An early break by the former world No.1 in the second seemed to seal Ana’s fate; however, Ana broke back to even the score at 4-4 and then served at 40-15. With the momentum ready to shift, Ana played a series of miscalculated shots, including an ill-advised drop shot that landed in the net. Williams wasted little time capitalizing on Ana’s missed opportunities, seizing the break and then serving out the match at 5-4 to send Ana home in a disappointing loss that lasted that lasted sixty-six minutes.Ana said: "Even though I didn't play very well, the match against Serena was a good experience and I learned from it. It was my first time on the centre court at the US Open, and I'm hoping to play there many more times in the future."
By Jordan Butler
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