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Frustrated Ivanovic puts brave face on loss

MELBOURNE - Former finalist and world number one Ana Ivanovic put on a brave face after she flopped out of the Australian Open on Thursday, insisting her game will come good again.

The Serbian pin-up lost to experienced Argentinian Gisela Dulko 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-4 with her error-riddled performance a far cry from 2008, when she lost the Australian Open final and won the French Open.

The 20^th seed recovered from 1-4 down to take the first set against the 36^th-ranked Dulko, but struggled with her serve and eventually succumbed.

“It’s hard and it hurts, but it’s a process,” she said after failing to get past the second round for the sixth time in her past seven tournaments.

“I think I just have to be patient, it will take some time.”

She had all sorts of problems on the serve, countless times aborting her service action after an errant ball toss, and faced 28 break points, nine of which Dulko converted.

Her disappointing exit came as she tries to rejuvenate her career after battling indifferent form and injuries last year.

She slipped down the rankings to be outside the top 20 for the first time in five years, finishing the season at 22, with her best performances the fourth round at Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

Ivanovic conceded her ball toss was a major problem against Dulko, but was philosophical, saying she was striking the ball better than ever and her game was on the right track.

“I do feel better on the court and I’m playing much better and I feel like my old self,” she said.

“I am striking the ball better than ever, but there are still some areas that are not there for me to rely on in moments I need them the most.

“I just have to sort of keep my head up and try to improve and work, there are things I’m working on.

“The serve is a big part of that progress and I feel it’s been going well at times, but it’s just not consistent like I would like it to be.

“It just might just take some time, and I have to accept that, although it’s hard.”

Ivanovic, who said niggling injuries ruined her 2009, also said she was guilty of putting overwhelming pressure on herself and not playing on instinct.

“I think when I actually let go of emotions and what I have to do, that’s when I play my best,” she said. “That’s when instincts overtake a lot.

“I have to work on it and that’s something I’ll always struggle with.”

Ivanovic had a break point in the second set to go ahead 5-4 and serve for the match, but Dulko staved off the challenge and then won three straight games to turn the match.

Although Ivanovic fended off five match points in the third set, Dulko finally prevailed after two hours and 42 minutes.

Ivanovic clashed with Australian umpire Kerrilyn Cramer over line calls several times, although she was unlucky to be on the wrong end of a poor call to hold serve in the fifth game of the deciding set.

The error helped Dulko hold serve to lead 4-1 and all but sealed the Serbian’s fate, and she was broken again in the next game as the 24-year-old took an iron grip on the match.

It was the first time Dulko has advanced beyond the second round here in seven attempts.