Australian Open: You can’t be pals with your rivals

Despite the disappointment of losing in her second Grand Slam final, Ana Ivanovic is pleased about her elevation to world No 2 following her exploits at the Australian Open.

The world’s sexiest tennis player, who will be making her second appearance at the Dubai Tennis Championships next month, is, however, upset at the behaviour of her semi-final victim Daniela Hantuchova, who called her sporting nature into question after the match when she accused Ivanovic of putting her off with squeaky shoes.

"I was disappointed to hear that. I thought we played a great match and I’m a little hurt that she made those comments, which were completely untrue. I think this shows how difficult it is to be friends with other tennis players," she told XPRESS following a barbecue party in Melbourne for her uncle’s birthday on Saturday, which helped take her mind away from what had happened in the final.

"It was a lovely evening. There were many people there and we all had a good time. They cooked many different meats and there was even some singing," she said before reverting back to her on-court exploits.

So, how different was this final from the French? "I was more experienced this time round. I knew how it felt to be in a Grand Slam final, so I wasn’t too emotional or excited. I was obviously very nervous, but I didn’t take that into the match. It was a much better approach than in Paris, it’s just unfortunate I wasn’t able to play my best tennis," she said.

She may not have a Grand Slam title yet, but Ivanovic is happy at her rapid rise in the rankings. "Just nine months ago I was No 16, so I’ve made great progress. I’ve improved a lot, and that’s very pleasing. Of course I feel disappointment about the final, but there are so many positives to take out of the fortnight," she said.