Anna Chavetadze - Getty Images

There’s Something About An(n)a

August 13, 2007 - The name “Anna” derives from the Hebrew name “Channah”, meaning grace, charm, and mercy. Although a couple of Anna’s in action at the Rogers Cup presented by American Express have displayed a plethora of grace and charm, they have shown little mercy.

Anna Chakvetadze had seen her year-end Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles ranking cut in half in each of the past five years and looks prime to continue that streak for a sixth year. After finishing 2006 at No. 13 in the world, it certainly isn’t a stretch to suggest that Chakvetadze could at least maintain her current No. 6 position (a career-high) considering the year that she has had thus far.

In what has already been her most successful season on Tour, the 20-year old Russian has collected four titles (Hobart, S’ Hertogenbosch, Cincinnati, and Stanford), reached a pair of Grand Slam quarter-finals (Australian Open and Roland Garros), and enjoyed a 12-match win streak, the longest on Tour this year. Now, she hopes to build on her semifinal run at last year’s Rogers Cup in pursuit of a much-coveted place within the Tour’s top five.

Ana (with only one ‘n’) Ivanovic would be looking to improve upon her run at the Rogers Cup last year if such improvement were possible. However, when you are the defending champion, it’s hard to find reason to veer from the status quo.

For the 19-year old Serb, competing at the Rexall Centre this year means a return to the event which catapulted her into the upper tier. Since raising the trophy in Montreal, Ivanovic has reached the French Open final and the Wimbledon semis, all the while watching her ranking rise to a career-high No. 5 in the world.

Perhaps the world’s best known Anna- that would be Kournikova- kicked off the week as one of the Tennis Legends presented by Acura, alongside John McEnroe, Jim Courier, and Carling Bassett-Seguso. In her first appearance at the Rogers Cup since 2002, the Russian superstar received a loud applause and the clicking of many a camera with every move she made.

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