Ana Ivanovic worked late into the Australian night on Tuesday before beating World No. 53, Timea Bacsinszky, in the second round of the Brisbane International: 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.  She reportedly entered the press room sometime after midnight, with an ice pack bulging underneath her warm up jacket (see the video, below.)

Ana assured reporters that the ice was only precautionary, but it’s a reminder of how tough she’s had to work in her first tournament since the end of September (when she lost in the first round of Tokyo) Monday’s first round match against Jelena Dokic also went the distance, with Ana eventually winning it 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.

Perhaps her boyfriend Adam Scott – who Ivanovic says offered “understanding and support” during her rough 2009 – is helping her persevere.

“The biggest thing, professionally, he has taught me is patience.” Ana said of Scott before Brisbane (via the Herald Sun).

Patience, Ana!

Scott, a reputed cool customer on the golf course, is enjoying spending the week in the stands:

‘I’ve only watched her play a few times. So it’s nice being in Brisbane,” Scott’s quoted in Tuesday’s Brisbane Times. ”(I’ll be here) As long as she goes. I’ve got this week off, so I’ll be around.’‘

And unlike Ana, who showed her frustration on Tuesday, Adam has reportedly been a “measure of calm” throughout the tournament:

“I don’t get nervous because there’s not much you can do from up in the stands,” Scott says.

Here’s Adam in the role of best supporting boyfriend:

So is Adam Scott Ana’s Mirka? Her Jelena Ristic? Unconditional eye-candy a la Brooklyn Decker? I just hope that when Ana loses – which she’s bound to do at some point – no one calls him a Stepanek.

Here’s some video from Ivanovic’s latest press conference – notice the ice pack and her mild surprise upon learning that Justine Henin is in her quarter of the draw:

To those reporters in Brisbane who are hoping for an Ivanovic vs. Henin quarterfinal, I offer Adam Scott’s sage words of advice: “Patience!”

Ana will play Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Italy’s Robert Vinci in the third round. Click here to visit the excellent Brisbane International website.