NEW YORK - ANA Ivanovic survived a first round scare at the US Open after a massive detour from a disappointing Beijing Olympics to have her problem right thumb checked out by her doctor in Australia.

After all the extra travelling the Serb number one was relieved to overcome Russian Vera Dushevina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in Tuesday's first round at flushing Meadows.

'I'm just so thrilled to be here and to have the opportunity to play, because after the Olympics it was obviously very disappointing,' said the Roland Garros champion.

'I really tried to do everything possible for my recovery - I even went to Australia to see my doctor and to be able to practice.'

The 20-year-old who has family in Melbourne and uses Australia as a December training prior to the Australian Open, said that scans and tests 'didn't show any tendon problems.'

'But they found a few cysts that were causing inflammation. The doctor just did lots of treatment to me. He is also a chiropractor, so he fixed my back and my neck, and everything was so connected.'

The world number one who is fighting off five other contenders for her spot atop the WTA, said that even after a week of training in New York, her hand and thumb are vastly improved.

'Before I had no power in my hand. I couldn't hold my racquet. Finally my power's back, and the inflammation started to calm down'.

'The last couple of days I've been totally without the pain, so it was really good,' said the player who still limits her current training to a sparse one hour per day.

The Serb blames her thumb problem on not enough rest after Wimbledon, where she lost in the third round.

'I had holidays and I was really motivated to start working hard and to get my form back and to compete. I think I started too fast and too much, and I got obviously injured'.

'I was so much looking forward to Olympics, and was very excited to compete there. When I had to pull out, it was probably one of the hardest days of my career.'

Ivanovic said that is her first few days in New York she was able to indulge in some down time. 'I had some afternoons off, so I went shopping and to Central Park. I really tried to get best out of it. The weather was beautiful, so it helped a lot'.

'I can now just now focus on tournament.' -- AFP