After finishing the season as the world’s top-ranked female tennis player, Jelena Jankovic is ready to concentrate on winning her first Grand Slam title next year.
The 23-year-old Serb, who reached the US Open final this year and also made the semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens, first took over the No. 1 ranking on Aug. 11, and then again ascended to that height on Oct. 6. She has held the top ranking for a total of 12 weeks.
“My priorities will be on the big tournaments, Grand Slams and Tier 1s,” Jankovic said on Thursday. “When you prepare 100 percent, when you put all the hard work in, then you can really have higher expectations and you can expect yourself to achieve great things.”
PHOTO: EPA
Last season, Jankovic won more matches (65) than any other woman on the WTA Tour, claiming titles in Rome, Beijing, Stuttgart and Moscow in the 22 tournaments she played. But she said injuries bothered her for much of the season, and that’s why she has already started working out to prepare for next season.
“I’m really training hard,” said Jankovic, who started training last month and is currently practicing in Florida. “Before I came here I was in Mexico in high altitude ... trying to get stronger and fitter.”
On Wednesday, Jankovic and top-ranked Rafael Nadal were honored as the International Tennis Federation’s world champions of 2008.
But for next year, Jankovic expects to go about her season differently, easing her schedule in order to stay healthy.
“What matters is how fit you are, how well you prepare,” said Jankovic, who admitted she was only injury-free for a major tournament this year at the US Open. “Last year in December, I didn’t have a good preparation before the new season. I only trained two weeks before the Australian Open.”
“When you’re not ready, when you’re not prepared, when you’re not fit and playing at a high level ... you’re going to have a high risk of getting injured,” she said.
As the top-ranked player, Jankovic is also going to have to deal with others trying to prove themselves by beating her.
“I want the girls to play their best tennis against me and I want to win in those circumstances. I’m up for the challenge,” Jankovic said. “I want to compete in those best tournaments with the best players out there.”
As for simply being on top of the world of women’s tennis, Jankovic is relishing that happenstance, too.
“I love being in that role, being in the role of the No. 1 player in the world. I like that position and I want to stay there as long as it is possible,” Jankovic said. “I haven’t trained in my whole career as hard as I’m training now, and I hope and I believe that all this hard work will pay off.”
Jankovic also hinted that she would continue playing in the Fed Cup for Serbia, which hosts Japan in the first round of World Group II in February.
“I am a huge patriot,” said Jankovic, who helped Serbia advance from the zonal group this year. “I love playing for my country and defending the colors of my flag.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care