Coaching World No.1 Ana Ivanovic: Confidence, Weapons & the Psychology of Women’s Tennis

Key Points

• Dejan began coaching Ana when she was ranked around WTA #15.
• She had a strong work ethic and was a perfectionist, both on and off the court—similar to Novak Djokovic.
• Technical Focus Areas
  Serve and Ball Toss:Toss was too high, affecting rhythm and leading to double faults.Refined for more control, better percentage, and fewer errors under pressure.Backhand Adjustments:Created more spacing between body and ball to increase penetration and consistency.Introduced slice variation to disrupt opponents' rhythm.Forehand Weaponization:Built her already strong forehand into a true offensive weapon.Emphasized dry (early) forehands and encouraged net approaches after strong shots.
• Mental & Emotional Coaching
  Ana was highly emotional, but in a positive and driven way.Unlike Novak, who had unwavering self-belief before tournaments, Ana occasionally doubted herself despite her abilities.Worked on confidence building—especially through:Minimizing double faultsCreating reliable, repeatable shots under pressureReassuring and making her feel relaxed on court
• Psychological Differences: Men vs. Women
  Women’s tennis often includes more emotional swings and self-doubt, even among top players.This can lead to inconsistent match flow (e.g. dominant first set, weak second set).Men’s tennis tends to be more stable:When a male player is better, it usually shows consistently throughout the match.Men generally have more self-belief and emotional control mid-match.
• Key Takeaways
  Ana’s technical improvements—especially the serve and forehand—were critical, but the psychological side was just as important.In women’s tennis, success often comes down to managing expectations, building belief, and minimizing emotional disruptions.A great coach not only refines technique but also helps reduce self-doubt and guide players through the mental challenges of elite competition.