Is there any way back for Ana?

As Ana Ivanovic took the tennis scene with storm back in 2008, most people were convinced that a few years later she would be remembered for her skills just as much as for her looks.

Then, something happened almost overnight. Suddenly, she lost her game, her characteristically positive fighting spirit, and even her temper in many matches, looking very insecure and sometimes even completely bewildered on court ever since.

The changes of coaches, serve, training methods etc. definitely didn't help her, either. The results are simply not coming, and just 2 years after reaching the Nr. 1 spot, she is now not even ranked in the top 50.

In her interviews, she is always positive and tries to explain why and how the latest coach or game change will help her and that she is on the right track, but so far, it's just not happening.

As for her game, the serve stands out as a shot that has become mysteriously shaky, and in many cases, the serve reflects someone's self belief quiet well. But if I look at the rest of her shots by themselves, I have to say there's actually nothing wrong with her tennis.

The real explanation could lie somewhere else. Many people simply say that she just couldn't handle the sudden burden of being Nr.1. But this was 2 years ago, and I'm afraid this explanation is not quiet enough anymore.

It's more like what's going on around being a player of her caliber. She explained to me earlier that it's sometimes very difficult to say no, even if she would want to.

And this is what I believe the root of the problem is. I can say from personal experience that Ana is a great person, very sympathetic, focused and hard-working, with an incredibly mature way of thinking - but she has become a victim of her own success in many ways.

The increased level of fame, combined with the sometimes very unhealthy general approach towards the top female players as glamour model heroes is not necessarily helping her. All the interviews, photo shoots, commercials, parties etc. seem to hurt her concentration in a way that she might not even be aware of.

Money and beauty rule the world, and also the world of tennis. But there have to be limits to what a person can take in terms of attention, and the line has to be drawn somewhere.

A balanced private life is also most important, of course. The question here is, is it really wise to be involved in relationships with other top athletes who you actually meet very rarely because of both parties' schedules? Ana doesn't seem to find too much happiness or positive energy in this area, either.

In general, it's very difficult to try to give any recipe how to turn things around. But apart from hiring the right coach, improving serve etc., I think she should concentrate just as much on the mental side.

A back-to basics approach could be the winning way, cutting back on the "glamour factor" with supportive, relaxed, positive people all around her, all accepting her TENNIS career as the Nr. 1 priority and all concentrating on this one goal. I remember Ana from 2005 as a shining, positive young girl with no worries on her mind. She simply has to get back to this state.

The alternative is to keep things as they are, but this approach might mean a lot of further frustration and the end of her career in a near future.

So my advice to Ana would be very simple - dare to say NO!