Serbs execute ‘hidden’ agenda

Childhood hide-and-seek competitors turned into delightful co-conspirators Sunday, completing a Serb-style North American tennis sweep hours apart.

Daydream believing turned into reality for Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic.

First, the 20-year-old Djokovic upset No. 1-ranked Roger Federer in the men’s Montreal final in three sets. The next move was up to 19-year-old Ivanovic, who was armed with the information of her countryman’s win.

And the third-seeded Ivanovic, a wild-card entry, was more than up to the task, beating No. 4 Nadia Petrova, 7-5, 6-4, in the final of the East West Bank Classic at the Home Depot Center, hitting an impressive 23 forehand winners.

“He played amazing tennis, so I was motivated to do the same thing,” Ivanovic said on the court after the match.

Said Djokovic, to reporters in Montreal: “Probably it’s in our water or something.”

Memo to U.S. Open contenders: Time to sample Serbia’s water.

The twin victories firmly established Djokovic and Ivanovic as legitimate threats at the U.S. Open, which starts later this month in New York. They’ve both had breakthrough seasons in ’07. She made the French Open final and Wimbledon semifinals; Djokovic reached the semifinals of both events.

To win her second title of the year, Ivanovic first had to walk a tightrope Saturday in the semifinals, saving two match points against countrywoman Jelena Jankovic. The final, while tight, was not nearly as dramatic.

Still, Ivanovic showed her increased mental toughness, saving four break points in her first service game. She was broken when she served for the opening set the first time, at 5-4, but would not repeat the mistake given a second chance, at 6-5.

She earned $88,260 for the title, and will be ranked a career-high No. 4 today. Djokovic moves to a career-high No. 3 behind Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Quite a cosmic distance from the days of hide and seek in Serbia. Ivanovic said she and Djokovic first met 14 or 15 years ago, getting introduced at a Djokovic family restaurant in the mountains, in the days before they even played tennis. His uncle went to school with her father.

“We always used to hang out,” she said. “As kids we would practice together and then we would go play hide and seek for the rest of the day. We had lots of fun. It’s nice to know someone for so long. You look back at your childhood, and know the same people, same stories. It’s pretty amazing.”

So who was better at hide and seek? She giggled at the memory.

“Sometimes very scared because there were dark and scary places, they were best to hide,” Ivanovic said. “I wouldn’t want to go in there. But I hated when I had to search for them because I was scared.

“We met then like kids. Then we went separate ways. That was pretty amazing. We have a dream we could actually play Grand Slams.”

She remembered making the mistake of hitting with him before a junior tournament in Serbia; it might have been when she played the 12-and-under division, she said. The challenge of matching up against her friend was one she couldn’t resist and Ivanovic was more concerned with that than her junior match.

“I had quite easy opponent. Before that, I warmed up with him and I gave 100%,” she said, still smiling. “And I couldn’t move in my match anymore. So I lost. I wanted to beat him. Obviously, he was a boy, so he was stronger. So I was still running like crazy.”

Presumably, the forehand was a weapon even in those days. Sunday, Petrova raved about the powerful shot.

“She just rips it off without thinking,” Petrova said. “Sometimes, I think she has no idea where it’s going to go. But compared to other players, it’s by far the best forehand out there.”

Petrova thought Ivanovic could, at least, make the semifinals at the U.S. Open. Veteran Rennae Stubbs, who won the doubles title with partner Kveta Peschke in Carson, took it one step beyond that, putting her in a group with contenders Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams.

“I think she’s right on par with all of them,” said Stubbs. “They’re all within 5% of each other.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com