Tennis player Ana Ivanovic in an interview with Slaven Bilić: I did not talk about it, but I had strong panic attacks

Ana Ivanović, former world number one tennis player, spoke openly during a conversation with Slaven Bilić about her experiences after retiring from professional tennis. She admitted to having intense panic attacks in recent years while competing on the court, though she had never discussed them publicly before. The interview took place on July 27, 2026, and was part of a special episode of the series Ne uspjeh prvaka, which features a detailed discussion with Ivanović. In the interview, Ivanović reflected on her life following the end of her professional career and addressed whether she found the level of competitiveness in her current job comparable to that in sports. She responded that she did not feel the same kind of adrenaline that came with playing on the main court during major tournaments. “That feeling when you play on the center court and compete in big tournaments, simply that kind of adrenaline can’t be repeated,” she said. Although she acknowledged missing the large tournaments and the competition, she expressed no regret over her decision to retire. “Of course, it wasn’t an easy step, and it wasn’t easy to leave tennis behind. After five years, this was my life, my first love, something I truly loved and was very good at. But I felt it was the right moment for me. I wanted something else, to follow some other paths I had seen could be possible.” Ivanović also recalled her early days in sports and highlighted how her parents were always her greatest support. Her father played basketball and was highly talented, but his father did not support him in sports, forcing him to focus on studies and work instead. When Ivanović began pursuing tennis, her father encouraged her, saying, “I’ll take you to training, I’ll support you if that’s your vision.” She emphasized that she never faced pressure, only support. She remembered a pivotal moment in her childhood when she decided to switch from group to individual training. At a young age, she confidently explained to her parents why she wanted to change. “I asked my mom and dad several times if I could train individually. They said it was too expensive and they couldn’t afford it. That day will never leave me. My mother was cooking, and I went to her and told her I needed to say something, I wanted to train individually. If you think there isn’t money for it, then maybe it’s better to stop because if I continue training in groups, you still pay, but I don’t progress. So it doesn’t make sense. My mother hugged me and said, ‘Okay, my dear, we’ll see.’ The next week, I started individual training.” Reflecting on her time on the court, Ivanović described how losses were deeply painful for her. She called them “the end of the world” and shared specific moments that shaped her journey. She recalled her defeat to Justine Henin at the 2007 French Open, a loss that left her emotionally shaken. “I remember that loss so clearly. I was playing superbly throughout the tournament, and I reached the final. Then suddenly, I realized where I was, what was happening, and I couldn’t move anymore. My legs gave out. I couldn’t hit the ball back. I couldn’t move.” This experience led to another tough loss at the 2007 Australian Open, where she fell to Maria Sharapova. Yet, these setbacks ultimately helped her succeed two years later at Roland Garros, where she won the title and became the world’s best player. The conversation continued with Ivanović reflecting on the emotional toll of losing and how those experiences shaped her resilience. She described the mental challenges she faced, particularly the panic attacks she experienced in recent years while competing. Though she had never spoken about them before, she revealed that they were a significant part of her struggle during her final years on the tour. The interview offered a rare glimpse into the personal and psychological battles that accompanied her athletic achievements.