Ivanovic falls further, drops opener to Bondarenko

Jimbo, wasn,t that Jimmy Connors nick-name? Your comments don,t warrant the use of his name. Your type hail players when they are on top and are only too happy to kick the when they are down. Did you also count Federer out when he was in his slump? There are people who do, people who teach and people who sit in front of their boob tubes and critique. You recognize yourself ? When you have accomplished being in the top 100 in the world in any endevor, you might have a right to point out others flaws, otherwise "fermez la bouche"

I love you Ana. I want to eat sushi off of you naked body.

Ana should stick to modeling...2nd rate modeling. She's probably playing tennis only because playing tennis will make it easier to be a tennis "model".

Post #40 Nightwing: Thank you for the kind words. I realize I got carried away with the length and possibly the depth of the post, but had just watched that match and was so saddened and concerned for her. I have never heard a negative thing said by anyone who know both tennis and Ana really well. I've kept up with her career as well as her life's journey. As many years as I have both played and watched tennis I think many spectators are becoming terribly rude and jaded.
I have no problem with someone expressing a viewpoint, about anything, but there isn't an opinion which cannot be expressed civilly. There's so much vitriolic bashing, when I read some of these things and I wonder what is happening to us. It would seem if you say anything nice, in today's society, you are considered "soft and weak". How completely askew is that?
It made me mad and caught me at a vulnerable moment, but I appreciate your post and your intelligent assessment of how many (players) would be better served if they would take a rest then come back and mount another campaign. I totally agree with you! Regards~

Post $45/4lakersever: AWSOME and truly heartfelt post. Perhaps she needs only a small break from tennis to regroup; we ALL know that she has the game, the talent and the gifts to remain a great player...

To Ana Ivanovic, if you don't really want to win, why play tennis? You REALLY have to do something about your career. EIther be a model or continue to become a "SUCCESSFUL" tennis player but YOU CANNOT DO BOTH! Hey we like you girl but it breaks our hearts to "KEEP LOSING CONSISTENTLY IN THE EARLY ROUNDS FOR A HIGHLY SEEDED PLAYER. I pray you change and improve your life & lifestyle. Not only fun but for respect & integrity of sports.

#35 i never saw the sisters dance on court when they win. I did see them dance at the open ceremoy. And that was on in fun for the kids.

ana need to regroup. she is a good payer. all players have their bad days. i beleive she wikk be back.

Sorry, Hal...here are the quotes:

"For those who like to praise America for making great strides toward racial equality, Goff's findings should have sobering implications. Perhaps the most fundamental one is that a long history of white supremacist assumptions that black people are related to apes and monkeys is not just history. Instead, as Goff has demonstrated, those racist associations remain embedded within the minds of most white people, affecting their opinions and their behavior."

"Discrimination against blacks linked to dehumanization, study finds:

Crude historical depictions of African Americans as ape-like may have disappeared from mainstream U.S. culture, but research presented in a new paper by psychologists at Stanford, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California-Berkeley reveals that many Americans subconsciously associate blacks with apes.

In addition, the findings show that society is more likely to condone violence against black criminal suspects as a result of its broader inability to accept African Americans as fully human, according to the researchers.

Co-author Jennifer Eberhardt, a Stanford associate professor of psychology who is black, said she was shocked by the results, particularly since they involved subjects born after Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. "This was actually some of the most depressing work I have done," she said. "This shook me up. You have suspicions when you do the work—intuitions—you have a hunch. But it was hard to prepare for how strong [the black-ape association] was—how we were able to pick it up every time."

http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/2008/pr-eber-021308.html

I've read many a post on these message boards which compares the Sisters to apes; Hal, do you really want to be associated with these ignorant louts?

Hal C.:/Post #30: You mostly sound like an intelligent individual; however, your use of blatant racial slurs demeans you and your intellect.

Hal, you associating the Williams Sisters with apes comes from a long line of ignorance, sheer stupidity and hate produced by Black Slavery in the United States:



Shameful, ignorant, stupid and hateful...Hal, clearly racist comment is such a polar opposate of your terrific writing and analytical skills (and your non-racist humor).

Pete'sbest14/Post 11: What a beautiful, passionate, compassionate and impassioned post...wow. Thank you so much!

Like others on both the WTA and ATP tours, Ana needs a break. I hope that Dinara takes a LONG rest herself...

The Williams Sisters are criticised for not playing a ton of matches all year long; sometimes, as you so elequently stated it, ONE needs a break.

Nice comment, Jack/Post # 38! If only racial prejudice and racial hatred COULD evaporate like dew in the mid-morning sun...sigh...

Racism is pure ignorance. Anyone should be ashamed to affiliate themselves with it, white or Black. Pure stupidity. A Klansman once quoted "There will Not Be Peace On Earth Until There Is Only One Race". I think he was right, but it will not be his race. Through time, with the mixing of the Races there will only be one Race, That Race will be called PEOPLE.

venus and serena are the champs! no one can dear walk in these beauties shoes.....All the Haters and racist wil have to swallow that for a long like to cum.

I'm dissappointed, and feel sorry for Ana, but on the bright side I think she should take this opportunity to become mentally tougher and realise it takes guts and determination to stay on top,see you at the australian open

Ivanovic melted down those last 3 points. I knew immediately once she blew the lead in that tiebreak and was down 7-6 that she would not even put a ball in play. She was trembling the double fault only delayed the inevitable. She is not mentally tough enough she cant handle the pressure now that there are expectaions of her. When she was the cute young serbian teenager she played her game and with something to prove. She is bigger than life in serbia like novak and there games have both suffered this year immensely... I am an american so u have to root for the williams sisters. But they both on the court not off have no class and respect for the other top players there dancing on the court when they win like 2 year olds makes me sick. I love serenas game though and she is a fierce competitor but they need some humility. Venus has proven great on grass dissapointing every where else only 2 grand slams..

TO MG... Well said..... To be the best, you work hard and play hard, the William Sisters, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, have clawed their way to the top.... As for Safina being number I personally think its an insult to the most deserving players....

quote- ".... intimidated by the William apes."

1. why even put that "apes" comment in there? What purpose has that?

2. they have earned their "intimidation" factor because of the championships they have won.

3. Venus is the most vocal active player in the WTA fighting for equality with the men and promoting the sport. Which makes it good for all of us.


As for Ana, she won the French Open, she has more Grand Slams victories then #1 Safina. She is in a funk, a lot like Andy Roddick was in 2 years ago and Agassi was in many years ago when he bottomed out at 114 in the world. Being a 'pretty' face isn't the deal here. Which leads me back to the Williams, if you want to be the best you have have got to have the goods, the fight, and the mental game to be the best.

To Hal C.....
U are a stupide raciste ,so thank`s god 2the blacks and white and the asia players
we can watch a good game

To Hal C.....
A small minded person would call the Williams sister apes.... mmm I wonder if they were white and as good as the William sisters, would call them Apes... I think not... so once again, ignorance and prejudice prevails.....

Anyone thinking Ana might be this decade's Iva Majoli?

too much glam will mess you up in a slam

What a disaster! I'm not going to see the beautiful Ana for the rest of the tourney?

Nobody sets out to lose. Who knows, she may be at a loss as to what needs to happpen at this point herself. She may have to go back to the drawing board, start with the basics and go from there. This loss has set her up to do just that.