 Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2009 |
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| 07 Feb 2009 - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade - Barry Millns - SRB v JPN | |
| Perfect start for Serbia's stars |
Two players who already know what it takes to top the individual world rankings, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic put Serbia within touching distance of the World Group Qualifiers. Playing at home in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time, Ivanovic began by giving the thousands of supporters packed into the Belgrade Arena just what they wanted with a 64 64 victory over Japan's leading player Ai Sugiyama and Jankovic then crushed Ayumi Morita 61 60.
Playing for the first time as a professional in front of her own people, Ivanovic rose to the occasion after her disappointing early exit from the Australian Open. Choosing to receive at the start in order to give herself a better chance of settling into the match, she broke Sugiyama immediately when the Japanese double faulted at 30-40 in the first game.
Crowd rallies behind Ivanovic
Boosted by that and the vociferous support all around Ivanovic served better herself and looked to attack at the net behind some fierce returns and groundstrokes whenever she could. Sugiyama, a doubles finalist in Melbourne, did manage to break back for 4-all when the French Open champion tightened momentarily, but the Serb then broke again and held from there for the set.
The second set was certainly tense but another double fault cost Sugiyama dear in the penultimate game, allowing Ivanovic to serve out for the win and beam with delight when she had done so: “Oh it’s amazing, it’s something I have never experienced before, this kind of atmosphere. It’s the first professional match I played in front of my own country, my own crowd. So it was amazing, they were really supporting us. I am just so thrilled to have a victory, first point for us.”
Nervous start for Jankovic
By her own admission Jankovic was also a little nervous at the start of the second singles match against Morita having never played her before. The Japanese teenager hits two-handed off both sides and created some early chances to break the world No. 3.
But once Jankovic had broken to lead 2-1 in the first set and then saved more break points against her in the next game she never looked back. Growing in confidence and tapping into the crowd’s support she overpowered Morita for the remainder and was all smiles when she had clinched Serbia’s second point of the day.
Serbia a point away from the play-offs
Jankovic now has the chance to put Serbia through to the play-offs by beating Sugiyama in the first reverse singles on Sunday. Having beaten the Japanese No. 1 three times since the start of last season she is looking forward to facing her again: “Yeah, it’s going to be exciting, I hope that I can pull another win off again and help my team get through this tie. So it’s really forward for that match and hopefully I can give my best.”
If Sugiyama does get the better of Jankovic for the first time then attention will turn back to Ivanovic against Morita in the fourth singles. But on the evidence of the opening day’s play Serbia will, one way or another, be celebrating their first home win and taking another step towards the elite World Group.
Related Links on other websites
> Information in Japanese - JTA
Related Links on Fedcup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> Ivanovic to start Serbia’s first home tie
Related audio
 Interview with Ana Ivanovic (SRB) - day 1
Interview with Jelena Jankovic (SRB) - day 1
Interview with Japanese captain Minoru Ueda - day 1
 
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