Jelena Jankovic’s Comeback

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd October 2013

Jelena Jankovic's Comeback

epa03899527 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in action against Serena Williams of USA in the women's singles finals at the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 06 October 2013. EPA/ADRIAN BRADSHAW |

Jelena Jankovic hasn’t exactly been to hell and back since she soared to the No.1 ranking in 2008, but she hasn’t exactly been able to maintain a heavenly level, either.

But the quick and ambitious Serbian has never given up on her goal of continuing to be an elite player. Back in March, she said that she would return to the WTA Championships for the fifth time. It took a lot of hard work and faith but that target was reached and now she is right where she wants to be: a veteran player with an outside shot of winning the crown.

“It’s doable,” she said. “Everything is possible. I’m one of those, that it shows that even though you fall out and you don’t play so well ‑‑ I almost fell out of top 30, and coming back to the top 10, top 8, it’s a great achievement even though I was No. 1 in the world in the past, but still coming a long ways is great. Hopefully I can continue in this way.

Former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic admits that when she almost fell out of the top 30 that she had stopped adoring the game. Jankovic has climbed back into the top 10 and will contest the WTA Championships for the fifth time.

“Once you’re used to being in the top and winning a lot of matches, and once that changes, you don’t enjoy it,” said the Serbian who became No. 1 in 2008. “I think no one likes to lose, of course, but that’s not in our nature. You have to try to make some changes. There is a reason why you were losing, why you were not doing so well. So you have to figure out a way to win again and try to do the right things. And over the years, I think I have learned a lot. I have made a lot of mistakes, as far as what has not worked, and I have learned what works for me. So now as a 28‑year‑old I can use that to my advantage. I have a lot more knowledge, a lot more experience. I think I can do and show a lot more in my tennis career. I love the competition. I love the satisfaction of winning. I love playing against the best tennis players in the world, and that’s what I enjoy.”

The Serbian also said that she feels better physically than she did when she was younger and thinks she can climb higher in the rankings.

“There were times in the past where I kind of felt like, oh, my God, everything is aching and hurting and ‑‑ I feel like I’m getting older,” the world No. 8 said. “I cannot be up there and all this. I had some doubts. But now at this stage I feel that, you know, I can achieve a lot, and I have a lot of belief in myself. I know I can bring a lot more to the table.”

While some players can accept decline naturally, the gritty Jankovic could not. Since she arrived in the United States as pre-teen she has felt like she can play with anyone and should be able to sustain that level. From 2007-2010 she held a top 10 ranking. But then she slipped out of the top 10 in 2011 and the top 20 in 2012. After winning the Indian Wells in 2010, it took her nearly three years to win another title, Bogota (her 13th overall) in February of this year.

“Once you’re used to being in the top and winning a lot of matches, and once that changes, you don’t enjoy it,” she said. “I think no one likes to lose, of course, but that’s not in our nature. You have to try to make some changes. There is a reason why you were losing, why you were not doing so well. So you have to figure out a way to win again and try to do the right things. And over the years, I think I have learned a lot. I have made a lot of mistakes, as far as what has not worked, and I have learned what works for me. So now as a 28‑year‑old I can use that to my advantage. I have a lot more knowledge, a lot more experience. I think I can do and show a lot more in my tennis career. I love the competition. I love the satisfaction of winning. I love playing against the best tennis players in the world, and that’s what I enjoy.”

The gregarious Jankovic has been through a number of coaches but made a good move earlier this year when she hired her brother Marko to coach her. The two get along well and she actually listens to him. She really feels she can make a substantial push again

Topics: 10sballs, Indian Wells, Jelena Jankovic, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta