NOTEBOOK | Wimbledon

Ivanovic wins: Ana Ivanovic was quick with a response when a reporter asked, “How do you feel when people say you are the prettiest girl ever to play at Wimbledon?” “Once you’re on the court, it doesn’t matter the way you look,” the French Open runner-up said after beating Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-0, 7-6 (3) Wednesday. “It doesn’t help you win points.” Following up on her run to the final at the French Open, where she lost to top-ranked Justine Henin, Ivanovic is only worried about trying to win more matches. “It’s a different game than on the clay,” she said. “It’s important for every player to adjust the best they can. I think I can do well. But, as I said, I just don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I have so many years yet to come. I enjoy my tennis at the moment.”

Written in the stars: Serena Williams knows why she and sister Venus get along so well on and off the court — their astrological signs. Serena is a Libra, Venus is a Gemini. “We’re so close,” Serena Williams said. “We have complete opposite personalities almost. I guess it works well. Geminis and Libras are like a perfect match. That’s what I credit it to.” The sisters’ first doubles match anywhere since 2003 is today, when they face Claire Curran and Anne Keothavong of Britain. The Williams-Williams pairing has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, including at Wimbledon in 2000 and 2002. “What I enjoy most about playing doubles is just being out there with V because we just laugh and talk,” Serena Williams said. “Just gossip the whole time really.” It also helps that Venus Williams takes the lead. “All she does is serve, and I just stand there,” Serena Williams said. “Sometimes I don’t even move, she plays all the points. My favorite word is ‘yours.’ ”
Moving on: Andy Roddick saw the funny side to the political changeover happening in Britain. The third-seeded American was watching television before his match and saw Tony Blair moving out of the Prime Minister’s residence. “They televised the moving van literally pulling up, and they followed the moving van down the street,” Roddick said. “I think that’s hilarious. We need to get a moving van in the States somewhere. That would be hilarious.” But despite Roddick’s interest in the local action, he wasn’t prepared to comment on incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown. “I’m not going to pretend too much to know about the political views of Gordon Brown,” Roddick said. “I think I’d be on the verge of ignorance if I touched on that anymore. But I’m a big fan of the televising of the moving van.”

Associated Press