Jankovic targets Grand Slam

Serbian out to cement No.1 ranking

Last updated: 6th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jankovic targets Grand Slam

Jankovic: Grand Slam goal

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Jelena Jankovic has revealed her determination to cement her place at the top of the WTA rankings by winning at least one Grand Slam during the 2009 season.

The 23-year-old Serbian enjoyed a fantastic 2008 to secure the number one ranking ahead of Serena Williams, Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva and compatriot Ana Ivanovic.

The retirement of former world number one Justine Henin midway through the 2008 season left the aforementioned female stars vying for the vacant spot - a place clinically taken by Jankovic.

Her consistent displays kept her top of the pile at the end of the year with a record of 65 wins from 84 matches, which included four titles to take her career tally to nine.

"After (Justine) Henin retired (in May), there was an opening for the number-one position and at a certain period of the year we were all fighting for that spot and there were many changes; there were a couple of girls hitting the top," said Jankovic.

Elusive

"But in the autumn I had a great couple of tournaments - I played very well in the US Open and then won three tournaments in a row and I was able to finish the year as the number one player in the world."

It was a decent end to a year which included the runners-up spot at the US Open and semi-final places in the Australian Open and the French Open at Roland Garros, while Jankovic exited the fourth Grand Slam, Wimbledon, in the fourth round.

Having lost to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in 2008, Jankovic, who will prepare for the Australian Open with the JB Group Classic in Hong Kong, returns to Melbourne this year optimistic of ending her quest for the elusive Grand Slam title.

"I'm working very hard and that is one of my priorities for 2009, to win a Grand Slam, to start by winning one," she said.

"I believe in myself and I believe my time will come."

Priority

Jankovic has been the subject of an all-access documentary in Serbia, while she continues studying for an economics degree at Megatrend University in Belgrade and is designing a clothing range.

She believes the off-court distractions can boost her game, which she hopes will go from strength to strength in the next 12 months.

"Tennis is my priority but I think it's very important to get your mind off of tennis and do other things," she said.

"I do all of those things with a smile on my face and I want to do it. It helps me to make my tennis game a lot better because it's not only tennis, tennis, tennis all day long.

"I do other things that makes me more relaxed and when I go on the tennis court, more focused on the job."