Ana Ivanovic is Optimistic Despite Knee Injury

Ana Ivanovic is optimistic about defending her French Open title, saying on Thursday that a niggling knee injury had died down.

“Thankfully the pain and inflammation in my knee has gone away so I have been able to practice this week,” the Serbian said. “My timing is pretty good at the moment and I’m optimistic about my chances of success in Paris.”

The world number eight has suffered a sharp loss of form since last year and pulled out of the Madrid Open earlier this month with the recurring injury, which worsened after her country’s Fed Cup win over Spain in April.

The 21-year-old from Belgrade will need a steep improvement in recent form to retain her crown at Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday, after plummeting down the WTA rankings from the number one spot she grabbed after taking last year’s title.