Ana Ivanovic Changes Coaches Just Before Australian Slam

Lauren LynchDec 17, 2010

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(December 17, 2010)— A rejuvenated Ana Ivanovic is looking more like the player fans cheered for in 2008. Despite clinching her first title, after a two year dry spell, at the Commonwealth Championship in Bali, the former No.1 has hired Coach Antonio van Grichen to get through the Australian hard courts.

Van Grichen is most famous for helping Belarusian tennis pro, Victoria Azarenka get to World No. 6. In addition to working Azarenka he has also enjoyed brief stints with French No. 3 Alize Cornet, Romania's Sorana Cirstea and this year’s US Open finalist Vera Zvonareva, a partnership that resulted in the Russian player breaking down into tears and gesturing towards, former coach and mentor, Sam Sumyk halfway through a match between she and Victoria Azarenka in December of 2009. Two months after this incident, Zvonereva and van Grichen parted ways.

Ivanovic parted ways with former coach Heinz Gunthardt in October of 2010 after only eight months under his tutelage. According to Ivanoic, the split was amicable, and based only on her need to have someone who is able to join her at all tournaments.

Despite this career glitch, Van Grichen will get his first test run with Ivanovic at the Hopman Cup, where she will start her 2011 campaign.