Ivanovic brings the heat

Tennis star Ana Ivanovic will heat up the Tennyson State Tennis Centre, when she stars on centre court next Monday night at the Brisbane International.

The Brisbane tournament director, Steve Ayle, has heeded popular demand, and guaranteed a primetime appearance by the Serbian stunner.

"While this is not unheard of in some of the big tournaments on the tour, this is a first for an Australian event," Ayles explained. "We think the incredible amount of public interest warrants it."

Ivanovic’s opponent won’t be known until the official draw is conducted on Brisbane’s Queens St Mall stage in front of Myer at noon on January 3.

The World No.5 heads an impressive women's field for the event that includes Victoria Azarenka, Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and former Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo.

The Aussie female contingent vying for victory includes Samantha Stosur, Jarmila Gajdosova and Jelena Dokic.

Ivanovic will be keen to start 2009 with a bang. Despite two Grand Slam final appearances, with a win at Roland Garros and over $US3 million in prize money in the year just gone, there is a sense 2008 could have been even bigger.

Thumb injury scuttled Ivanovic's Olympic hopes, and led to a disappointing return in the US Open. Just last month in Doha a virus struck her down in the WTA Championships.

Ivanovic is determined to come back strong.

"Right now I am in Australia and I’m going through the most intense training period of the season," she wrote on her website from her Sunshine Coast camp. "I have three sessions a day most days, combining both practice on the court and fitness. It’s very exhausting."

Despite the gruelling schedule, Ivanovic still finds time to appreciate the natural beauty of the region.

"The parks in Queensland are beautiful to run around in," she said. "I am sure I would be enjoying the scenery more if I wasn't working so hard, although it makes the tough physical work easier to bear when the surroundings are so nice. Actually we have incorporated the surroundings into my fitness regime, because I have been running along the sandy beaches and sprinting up hills."

Whether the hard work pays off will be clear next Monday, when fans clamour to watch the queen of the centre court in action.