Yes, we loved it when she ran with grace on court and spoke of Freud in the press room.
But what will we remember most about the newly retired Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champ and former No. 1, who was a key member of the Serbian Surge?
Her backstory was one of the top 10 of all time. In the war-torn winters of her childhood, she practiced in a frigid Belgrade pool. Her spats with fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic were modest, yet amusing. Her celebrations delighted. Her fist pumps were the femme opposite of that most macho of power gestures. Jimmy Connors and Lleyton Hewitt need not worry.
She crushed her forehand. Her olive tone radiated. Did she have the best complexion in the game, or maybe in the history of the game? While clearly a beauty, she was wise and well-read. And she was kind.
Most of all we loved her smile. The six-foot queen left us too early.
