{"id":1973,"date":"2026-09-08T21:46:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:46:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beautyoftennis.com\/?p=1973"},"modified":"2026-09-08T21:46:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T19:46:48","slug":"0124-jelena-jankovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"beautyoftennis.com\/?p=1973","title":{"rendered":"#0124 jelena jankovic"},"content":{"rendered":"
a severe inward listening.<\/small><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>
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Jelena Jankovi\u0107 \u2013 Overview<\/h3>\n\n

Jelena Jankovi\u0107 (born 28 February 1985 in Belgrade, then Yugoslavia) is a former Serbian professional tennis player and one of the most successful players in Serbian tennis history. She reached world No. 1 in singles on 11 August 2008 and finished that season as the year-end No. 1. Jankovi\u0107 won 15 WTA singles titles, reached 36 singles finals and compiled 644 tour-level singles victories. Her greatest Grand Slam singles achievement was reaching the 2008 US Open final. She also reached five other Grand Slam semifinals, won the 2007 Wimbledon mixed-doubles championship with Jamie Murray and attained a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 19.<\/p>\n\n

Early Life<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was born in Belgrade to Veselin and Sne\u017eana Jankovi\u0107. She has two brothers, Marko and Stefan. Neither of her parents came from a professional tennis background.<\/p>\n\n

She began playing tennis at approximately nine years of age after being introduced to the sport by her older brother Marko.<\/p>\n\n

Early Tennis Development<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 trained at the Red Star Tennis Club in Belgrade before moving abroad to obtain stronger international training opportunities.<\/p>\n\n

As a young teenager she trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, where she developed alongside other ambitious international juniors.<\/p>\n\n

Junior Career<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was one of the world's outstanding junior players and reached junior world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

Her junior success demonstrated many of the characteristics that later defined her professional game: exceptional movement, competitive consistency and a technically strong two-handed backhand.<\/p>\n\n

Australian Open Junior Champion \u2013 2001<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the Australian Open girls' singles championship in 2001.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Sofia Arvidsson 6\u20132, 6\u20131 in the final, establishing herself as one of the leading prospects of her generation.<\/p>\n\n

US Open Junior Doubles Final \u2013 2001<\/h3>\n\n

Later in 2001 Jankovi\u0107 reached the US Open girls' doubles final alongside Matea Mezak.<\/p>\n\n

They finished runner-up to Galina Fokina and Svetlana Kuznetsova.<\/p>\n\n

Professional Beginnings<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 turned professional in 2000 while still a teenager and initially divided her schedule between junior and senior competition.<\/p>\n\n

She gradually progressed through ITF tournaments before establishing herself permanently on the WTA Tour.<\/p>\n\n

First ITF Title \u2013 2003<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won an important $75,000 ITF tournament in Dubai in 2003, defeating Henrieta Nagyov\u00e1 in the final.<\/p>\n\n

The result helped propel her toward the WTA Top 100 and regular tour-level competition.<\/p>\n\n

Top-100 Breakthrough<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 entered the WTA Top 100 during 2003 and finished the season ranked world No. 85.<\/p>\n\n

From that point onward she progressed rapidly toward the upper levels of women's tennis.<\/p>\n\n

First WTA Title \u2013 Budapest 2004<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won her first WTA singles championship at Budapest in 2004.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Martina Such\u00e1 7\u20136, 6\u20133 in the final and finished the season inside the world's Top 30.<\/p>\n\n

Olympic Debut \u2013 Athens 2004<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 made her Olympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games representing Serbia and Montenegro.<\/p>\n\n

She lost in the first round of the women's singles tournament.<\/p>\n\n

2005 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached three WTA finals during 2005, including the prestigious Dubai tournament, where she pushed world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport to three sets.<\/p>\n\n

She also reached finals in Birmingham and Seoul and finished the season ranked inside the Top 25.<\/p>\n\n

Difficult Start to 2006<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 experienced one of the most dramatic periods of her career during the first half of 2006, losing ten consecutive matches.<\/p>\n\n

She later acknowledged seriously considering leaving professional tennis during this period.<\/p>\n\n

Turning Point \u2013 Rome 2006<\/h3>\n\n

Her fortunes began changing at the Italian Open in Rome, where she finally ended the prolonged losing streak.<\/p>\n\n

The improvement restored her confidence and initiated a remarkable transformation during the second half of the season.<\/p>\n\n

US Open Semifinal \u2013 2006<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 produced her first major Grand Slam breakthrough at the 2006 US Open.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated several strong opponents, including Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, before losing to Justine Henin in the semifinals.<\/p>\n\n

2006 Recovery<\/h3>\n\n

After beginning the season in severe difficulty, Jankovi\u0107 finished 2006 ranked world No. 12.<\/p>\n\n

The turnaround became an important part of her career narrative and demonstrated the resilience that would characterize her subsequent rise to world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

Breakthrough Season \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

The 2007 season established Jankovi\u0107 among the elite of women's tennis. She won four singles titles, reached numerous finals and semifinals and led the WTA Tour with 72 match victories.<\/p>\n\n

She climbed to world No. 3 and finished the season at that ranking.<\/p>\n\n

Auckland Champion \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 began 2007 by winning the Auckland title.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Vera Zvonareva in a demanding three-set final, collecting the second WTA singles championship of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Charleston Champion \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the prestigious Charleston title on green clay in April 2007.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Dinara Safina in the final, confirming that her movement and defensive skills were particularly effective on slower surfaces.<\/p>\n\n

Rome Champion \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 captured one of the largest titles of her career at the Italian Open in Rome in 2007.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final and firmly established herself among the leading clay-court players in the world.<\/p>\n\n

Birmingham Champion \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 demonstrated her versatility by winning the Birmingham grass-court title in 2007.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Maria Sharapova in a dramatic three-set final, proving that her game could succeed on every major surface.<\/p>\n\n

Roland Garros Semifinal \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached her first Roland Garros semifinal in 2007.<\/p>\n\n

She lost to eventual champion Justine Henin but established herself as a genuine Grand Slam contender.<\/p>\n\n

Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion \u2013 2007<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the 2007 Wimbledon mixed-doubles championship alongside Britain's Jamie Murray.<\/p>\n\n

The partnership became highly popular with the Wimbledon crowd and gave Jankovi\u0107 the only Grand Slam championship of her senior career.<\/p>\n\n

2007 Season Statistics<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 played an exceptionally heavy schedule in 2007 and recorded 72 singles victories, more than any other player on the WTA Tour.<\/p>\n\n

Her consistency across hard, clay and grass courts was one of the defining features of her rise toward No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

2008 \u2013 Peak Season<\/h3>\n\n

The 2008 season was the statistical and ranking peak of Jankovi\u0107's career. She reached three Grand Slam semifinals or better, became world No. 1, reached her only Grand Slam singles final and finished the year as the top-ranked woman in tennis.<\/p>\n\n

Australian Open Semifinal \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2008.<\/p>\n\n

Her tournament included a marathon first-round victory over Tamira Paszek before she progressed through the draw and eventually lost to Maria Sharapova.<\/p>\n\n

Miami Final \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the final of the Miami Open in 2008.<\/p>\n\n

Serena Williams defeated her in three sets, but the result added valuable ranking points during Jankovi\u0107's pursuit of the No. 1 position.<\/p>\n\n

Rome Champion \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 successfully defended her Italian Open championship in 2008.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Aliz\u00e9 Cornet in the final and became a back-to-back champion at one of the most prestigious clay-court tournaments outside Roland Garros.<\/p>\n\n

Roland Garros Semifinal \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the Roland Garros semifinals for the second consecutive year in 2008.<\/p>\n\n

She lost an extremely important match to Ana Ivanovi\u0107, with the winner guaranteed to become world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

Ivanovi\u0107 won the match and subsequently captured the championship.<\/p>\n\n

Becoming World No. 1<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 became world No. 1 for the first time on 11 August 2008.<\/p>\n\n

She became the eighteenth woman to hold the WTA No. 1 ranking and the first Serbian woman other than Ana Ivanovi\u0107 to reach the position.<\/p>\n\n

No. 1 Without a Grand Slam Title<\/h3>\n\n

When Jankovi\u0107 first became No. 1, she had not yet reached a Grand Slam singles final.<\/p>\n\n

This unusual circumstance generated considerable discussion at the time, but her ranking reflected exceptional consistency across the full twelve-month WTA calendar rather than dependence on one major tournament.<\/p>\n\n

US Open Final \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the only Grand Slam singles final of her career at the 2008 US Open.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round, Sybille Bammer in the quarterfinal and Elena Dementieva in the semifinal.<\/p>\n\n

US Open Final Against Serena Williams<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 faced Serena Williams in the 2008 US Open championship match.<\/p>\n\n

Williams won 6\u20134, 7\u20135 in a competitive final, preventing Jankovi\u0107 from capturing the major singles title that would ultimately remain absent from her r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n

Autumn Dominance \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 responded to the US Open defeat with one of the finest winning sequences of her career.<\/p>\n\n

She captured three consecutive tournaments during the autumn in Beijing, Stuttgart and Moscow.<\/p>\n\n

Beijing Champion \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the China Open in Beijing, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.<\/p>\n\n

The championship began a sequence of three consecutive titles that secured her position at the top of the rankings.<\/p>\n\n

Stuttgart Champion \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 followed Beijing by winning Stuttgart.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Nadia Petrova in the final and continued one of the most dominant stretches of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Moscow Champion \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 completed her three-week title sequence by winning the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.<\/p>\n\n

The run effectively secured her position as the year-end world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

Year-End World No. 1 \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 finished 2008 ranked world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

She reached at least the quarterfinals in 19 of the 21 tournaments she contested and recorded 65 match victories, tied for the tour lead.<\/p>\n\n

Weeks at World No. 1<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 spent a total of 18 weeks at world No. 1 across her career, including 17 consecutive weeks spanning the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009.<\/p>\n\n

Her No. 1 ranking remains one of the defining achievements of Serbian women's tennis.<\/p>\n\n

2009 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was unable to reproduce the extraordinary consistency of 2008 but remained firmly among the world's elite.<\/p>\n\n

She won two titles, reached the WTA Championships semifinals and finished the season ranked world No. 8.<\/p>\n\n

Marbella Champion \u2013 2009<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the inaugural Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella in 2009.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Carla Su\u00e1rez Navarro in the final to capture another clay-court championship.<\/p>\n\n

Cincinnati Champion \u2013 2009<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won one of the most prestigious hard-court titles of her career at Cincinnati in 2009.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated world No. 1 Dinara Safina in the final after saving match points against Elena Dementieva in an extraordinary semifinal.<\/p>\n\n

WTA Championships \u2013 2009<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the semifinals of the season-ending WTA Championships for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n\n

She lost to Venus Williams but remained established among the leading players in the world.<\/p>\n\n

Indian Wells Champion \u2013 2010<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the Indian Wells title in 2010, one of the biggest championships of her career.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6\u20132, 6\u20134 in the final.<\/p>\n\n

Rome Final \u2013 2010<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 produced another exceptional Italian Open performance in 2010.<\/p>\n\n

During the tournament she defeated both Venus Williams and Serena Williams before losing the final to Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 Mart\u00ednez S\u00e1nchez.<\/p>\n\n

Defeating Both Williams Sisters<\/h3>\n\n

By defeating Venus and Serena Williams in consecutive matches in Rome in 2010, Jankovi\u0107 joined a relatively small group of players to defeat both sisters at the same tournament.<\/p>\n\n

The achievement ranks among the most impressive individual tournament sequences of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Roland Garros Semifinal \u2013 2010<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached her third Roland Garros semifinal in 2010.<\/p>\n\n

She was defeated by Samantha Stosur, who had eliminated Justine Henin and Serena Williams earlier in the tournament.<\/p>\n\n

2010 Year-End Ranking<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 finished 2010 ranked world No. 8.<\/p>\n\n

It was her fourth consecutive season ending inside the Top 10.<\/p>\n\n

2011 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 remained a leading player during 2011 but did not win a singles title.<\/p>\n\n

She reached finals in Monterrey and Cincinnati and finished the year ranked No. 14.<\/p>\n\n

2012 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's ranking declined further during 2012, and she finished the season at No. 22.<\/p>\n\n

She nevertheless remained capable of deep tournament runs and continued representing Serbia extensively in international team competition.<\/p>\n\n

Serbia Fed Cup Final \u2013 2012<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 helped Serbia reach its first Fed Cup final in 2012.<\/p>\n\n

Alongside Ana Ivanovi\u0107 and the rest of the Serbian team, she helped produce the strongest Fed Cup campaign in the country's history.<\/p>\n\n

Fed Cup Final Against Czech Republic<\/h3>\n\n

Serbia faced the Czech Republic in Prague in the 2012 final.<\/p>\n\n

The Czech team won the tie 3\u20131, leaving Serbia as runner-up.<\/p>\n\n

Resurgence \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 enjoyed a major career resurgence during 2013.<\/p>\n\n

After beginning the year outside the Top 20, she returned to the Top 10, reached several important finals and qualified for the season-ending championships.<\/p>\n\n

Bogot\u00e1 Champion \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the Bogot\u00e1 title in February 2013.<\/p>\n\n

It was her first singles championship since Indian Wells nearly three years earlier.<\/p>\n\n

Charleston Final \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 returned to the Charleston final in 2013, six years after winning the tournament.<\/p>\n\n

She finished runner-up to Serena Williams.<\/p>\n\n

Beijing Final \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the China Open final in Beijing during her excellent 2013 season.<\/p>\n\n

She again faced Serena Williams and finished runner-up.<\/p>\n\n

WTA Championships Semifinal \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 qualified for the WTA Championships in Istanbul and reached the semifinals.<\/p>\n\n

It was her third career semifinal appearance at the season-ending championships.<\/p>\n\n

2013 Year-End Ranking<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 finished 2013 ranked world No. 8.<\/p>\n\n

The achievement returned her to the year-end Top 10 five years after finishing 2008 as world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

Doubles Success \u2013 Toronto 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 partnered Slovenian doubles specialist Katarina Srebotnik to win the prestigious Toronto doubles championship in 2013.<\/p>\n\n

The result contributed to the strongest doubles period of Jankovi\u0107's career.<\/p>\n\n

Wimbledon Doubles Quarterfinal \u2013 2013<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the Wimbledon women's doubles quarterfinals in 2013.<\/p>\n\n

This remains her best women's doubles result at a Grand Slam tournament.<\/p>\n\n

Career-High Doubles Ranking<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 19 on 9 June 2014.<\/p>\n\n

Although singles always remained her priority, she was therefore also capable of competing at a very high professional level in doubles.<\/p>\n\n

2014 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 remained inside the world's Top 20 throughout much of 2014 and finished the season ranked No. 16.<\/p>\n\n

Her strongest results included the Bogot\u00e1 final and semifinals in Brisbane, Doha and Stuttgart.<\/p>\n\n

Back Problems<\/h3>\n\n

Recurring back problems increasingly affected Jankovi\u0107 during the later years of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Physical limitations reduced her consistency and contributed to a gradual decline from the level she had maintained during her prime.<\/p>\n\n

Indian Wells Final \u2013 2015<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 produced one of the finest late-career tournaments of her career at Indian Wells in 2015.<\/p>\n\n

Five years after winning the title, she returned to the final before losing a dramatic three-set match to Simona Halep.<\/p>\n\n

Wimbledon 2015<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2015 after defeating defending champion Petra Kvitov\u00e1 in three sets.<\/p>\n\n

The victory over the two-time Wimbledon champion was one of Jankovi\u0107's most memorable late-career Grand Slam performances.<\/p>\n\n

Guangzhou Champion \u2013 2015<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won the Guangzhou International Women's Open in September 2015.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Denisa Allertov\u00e1 in the final without dropping a set.<\/p>\n\n

Hong Kong Champion \u2013 2015<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won another title in Hong Kong only weeks after her Guangzhou victory.<\/p>\n\n

She defeated Angelique Kerber in a three-set final. It became the fifteenth and final WTA singles championship of her career.<\/p>\n\n

2015 Year-End Ranking<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 finished 2015 ranked world No. 21.<\/p>\n\n

At age thirty, she remained capable of winning multiple WTA titles and defeating leading Top-10 opponents.<\/p>\n\n

2016 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's results became increasingly inconsistent during 2016 as physical problems continued.<\/p>\n\n

She finished the season ranked world No. 55, her lowest year-end position since the early stages of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Olympic Games<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 competed in Olympic tennis at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 in singles.<\/p>\n\n

Her best Olympic singles result came in Beijing, where she reached the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n\n

Beijing Olympics \u2013 2008<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 entered the Beijing Olympics as the newly crowned world No. 1.<\/p>\n\n

She reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual silver medalist Dinara Safina.<\/p>\n\n

Rio Olympics \u2013 2016<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 also participated in women's doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics alongside Aleksandra Kruni\u0107.<\/p>\n\n

The Serbian pair were eliminated in the first round.<\/p>\n\n

2017 \u2013 Final Professional Season<\/h3>\n\n

The 2017 season became Jankovi\u0107's final year of regular professional competition.<\/p>\n\n

Injuries increasingly restricted her schedule and her ranking fell outside the Top 100.<\/p>\n\n

Final WTA Match<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 played her final official WTA singles match at the 2017 US Open.<\/p>\n\n

She lost in the first round to Petra Kvitov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n

Departure from the Tour<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 did not initially announce a formal retirement after 2017. Instead, she stopped competing while dealing with persistent physical problems.<\/p>\n\n

Her absence gradually became permanent, and the WTA now lists her as inactive and recognizes her among its former champions and legends.<\/p>\n\n

Grand Slam Singles Record<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached at least the semifinal stage at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments.<\/p>\n\n

\nAustralian Open \u2013 Semifinal (2008)
\nRoland Garros \u2013 Semifinal (2007, 2008, 2010)
\nWimbledon \u2013 Fourth round (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015)
\nUS Open \u2013 Final (2008)\n<\/p>\n\n

US Open<\/h3>\n\n

The US Open was Jankovi\u0107's most successful Grand Slam in terms of her deepest result.<\/p>\n\n

She reached the semifinals in 2006 and the championship match in 2008, losing the latter to Serena Williams.<\/p>\n\n

Roland Garros<\/h3>\n\n

Roland Garros was arguably Jankovi\u0107's most consistently successful major.<\/p>\n\n

She reached the semifinals three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and her exceptional movement made her particularly difficult to defeat on clay.<\/p>\n\n

Australian Open<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's best Australian Open performance came in 2008 when she reached the semifinals.<\/p>\n\n

She was also the Australian Open junior singles champion seven years earlier in 2001.<\/p>\n\n

Wimbledon<\/h3>\n\n

Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam at which Jankovi\u0107 never reached the singles quarterfinals.<\/p>\n\n

She reached the fourth round five times but enjoyed her only senior Grand Slam championship at Wimbledon, winning mixed doubles in 2007.<\/p>\n\n

WTA Singles Titles<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won 15 WTA singles championships during her career.<\/p>\n\n

Her titles included major events in Rome, Cincinnati and Indian Wells as well as championships on hard courts, clay, grass and indoor surfaces.<\/p>\n\n

WTA Singles Finals<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 reached 36 WTA singles finals, winning 15 titles and finishing runner-up 21 times.<\/p>\n\n

The large number of finals illustrates the consistency that allowed her to reach world No. 1 despite never winning a Grand Slam singles championship.<\/p>\n\n

Major Singles Titles<\/h3>\n\n

Among Jankovi\u0107's most important singles championships were:<\/p>\n\n

\nRome \u2013 2007, 2008
\nCharleston \u2013 2007
\nBeijing \u2013 2008
\nStuttgart \u2013 2008
\nMoscow \u2013 2008
\nCincinnati \u2013 2009
\nIndian Wells \u2013 2010\n<\/p>\n\n

WTA Finals<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 qualified repeatedly for the season-ending WTA Championships during her prime.<\/p>\n\n

She reached the semifinals in 2008, 2009 and 2013 but never advanced to the championship match.<\/p>\n\n

Doubles Career<\/h3>\n\n

Although primarily a singles player, Jankovi\u0107 won two WTA women's doubles titles and reached world No. 19 in doubles.<\/p>\n\n

Her best Grand Slam women's doubles result was the Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2013.<\/p>\n\n

Mixed Doubles<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's mixed-doubles partnership with Jamie Murray at Wimbledon in 2007 became one of the most memorable side stories of that year's championships.<\/p>\n\n

The pair won the title and developed an entertaining on-court rapport that made them particularly popular with spectators.<\/p>\n\n

Billie Jean King Cup<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 represented Serbia and its predecessor national teams for more than a decade in Fed Cup, now the Billie Jean King Cup.<\/p>\n\n

She compiled a 34\u201316 overall record and was central to Serbia's emergence as a significant force in women's team tennis.<\/p>\n\n

2012 Fed Cup Final<\/h3>\n\n

The high point of Jankovi\u0107's national-team career came when Serbia reached the 2012 Fed Cup final.<\/p>\n\n

Although Serbia lost to the Czech Republic, reaching the championship tie remains the country's best result in the competition.<\/p>\n\n

Hopman Cup<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 represented Serbia at the Hopman Cup and reached the final alongside Novak Djokovic in 2008.<\/p>\n\n

The mixed-team format highlighted both her strong national identity and her ability to perform effectively alongside Serbia's other leading players.<\/p>\n\n

Playing Style<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was a right-handed player with a two-handed backhand. At 1.77 m, she possessed sufficient height for a solid serve but built her game primarily around movement, consistency, counterpunching and precise baseline placement.<\/p>\n\n

She was particularly effective at absorbing an opponent's pace and redirecting the ball into open areas of the court.<\/p>\n\n

Movement<\/h3>\n\n

Movement was one of Jankovi\u0107's greatest strengths. She possessed excellent lateral speed, balance and anticipation and became famous for sliding effectively not only on clay but also on hard courts.<\/p>\n\n

Her ability to defend seemingly lost points frequently forced opponents to attempt increasingly risky winners.<\/p>\n\n

Backhand<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's two-handed backhand was her signature stroke and one of the finest in women's tennis during her peak years.<\/p>\n\n

The backhand down the line was particularly dangerous and allowed her to change the direction of rallies without obvious preparation.<\/p>\n\n

Backhand Down the Line<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 herself frequently identified the backhand down the line as the shot that earned her the most success.<\/p>\n\n

She could redirect powerful cross-court shots suddenly and accurately, transforming defensive exchanges into immediate attacking opportunities.<\/p>\n\n

Forehand<\/h3>\n\n

The forehand was generally less naturally destructive than her backhand but remained a reliable rally stroke.<\/p>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 used angles, depth and changes of direction rather than relying exclusively on outright pace.<\/p>\n\n

Serve<\/h3>\n\n

The serve was not Jankovi\u0107's principal weapon and could occasionally become vulnerable under pressure.<\/p>\n\n

Her exceptional return game and baseline movement compensated for this weakness, allowing her to win matches without accumulating large numbers of aces or inexpensive service points.<\/p>\n\n

Return of Serve<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was one of the strongest returners of her generation.<\/p>\n\n

Her anticipation and compact groundstrokes allowed her to neutralize powerful serves and immediately establish long baseline exchanges, an important reason for her success against physically stronger opponents.<\/p>\n\n

Defense to Attack<\/h3>\n\n

One of Jankovi\u0107's defining qualities was her ability to move rapidly from defense into attack.<\/p>\n\n

She could retrieve a powerful shot from an apparently hopeless position and then redirect the next ball aggressively down the line.<\/p>\n\n

Surface Versatility<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 won WTA titles on hard courts, clay, grass and indoor surfaces.<\/p>\n\n

Although the ITF listed hard court as her preferred surface, her movement and sliding ability made her particularly formidable on clay.<\/p>\n\n

Clay-Court Strength<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's two consecutive Rome championships and three Roland Garros semifinals demonstrate her exceptional clay-court ability.<\/p>\n\n

Her movement, patience and defensive skills were particularly effective in long rallies on slower surfaces.<\/p>\n\n

Grass-Court Ability<\/h3>\n\n

Although Wimbledon was statistically her weakest Grand Slam in singles, Jankovi\u0107 was capable of excellent grass-court tennis.<\/p>\n\n

She won Birmingham in 2007 by defeating Maria Sharapova and captured the Wimbledon mixed-doubles championship only weeks later.<\/p>\n\n

Personality on Court<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 was one of the most expressive personalities of her era. She frequently communicated with coaches, officials, spectators and even opponents during matches.<\/p>\n\n

Her humor, emotional reactions and willingness to engage with crowds made her unusually recognizable beyond her ranking and results.<\/p>\n\n

Relationship with Crowds<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 generally enjoyed interacting with spectators and developed a reputation as one of the WTA Tour's most entertaining personalities.<\/p>\n\n

Her matches often combined high-level defensive tennis with visible frustration, laughter and spontaneous exchanges with the audience.<\/p>\n\n

Rivalry with Ana Ivanovi\u0107<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 and Ana Ivanovi\u0107 formed one of the defining rivalries of Serbian women's tennis.<\/p>\n\n

Both were born in Belgrade, both reached world No. 1 and both emerged during the extraordinary rise of Serbian tennis in the late 2000s.<\/p>\n\n

2008 Roland Garros Semifinal<\/h3>\n\n

The most consequential match between Jankovi\u0107 and Ivanovi\u0107 came in the 2008 Roland Garros semifinals.<\/p>\n\n

The match effectively determined both a Grand Slam finalist and the next world No. 1. Ivanovi\u0107 won in three sets and subsequently captured the title.<\/p>\n\n

Serbian Golden Generation<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's rise coincided with an extraordinary period for Serbian tennis involving Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovi\u0107 and later numerous other internationally successful players.<\/p>\n\n

In 2008 both Jankovi\u0107 and Ivanovi\u0107 held the women's world No. 1 ranking while Djokovic established himself among the leading men's players.<\/p>\n\n

Career Match Record<\/h3>\n\n

WTA records credit Jankovi\u0107 with 644 singles victories and 370 defeats during her career.<\/p>\n\n

Her 644 victories place her among the most prolific match winners of her generation.<\/p>\n\n

Eight Top-10 Seasons<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 completed eight seasons ranked inside the world's Top 10.<\/p>\n\n

This sustained consistency is one of the strongest statistical arguments for her importance within the era dominated by players such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.<\/p>\n\n

Career Prize Money<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 earned US$19,089,259 in official career prize money.<\/p>\n\n

Her earnings reflect more than fifteen years of high-level tour competition, 36 singles finals and sustained participation in Grand Slam and premier WTA tournaments.<\/p>\n\n

UNICEF Ambassador<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 served as a UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia.<\/p>\n\n

The role reflected her status as one of Serbia's most internationally recognizable athletes during the peak of her career.<\/p>\n\n

National Recognition<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 received significant recognition in Serbia for her sporting achievements.<\/p>\n\n

In 2017 she was awarded the Order of Kara\u0111or\u0111e's Star, one of Serbia's important national honors.<\/p>\n\n

Life After Professional Competition<\/h3>\n\n

After leaving regular competition, Jankovi\u0107 largely withdrew from the public intensity of the professional tour.<\/p>\n\n

She has made occasional appearances at tennis exhibitions and special events but has not attempted a return to full-time professional competition.<\/p>\n\n

Career Highlights<\/h3>\n\n

\nFull name: Jelena Jankovi\u0107
\nBorn: 28 February 1985, Belgrade
\nNationality: Serbian
\nHeight: 1.77 m (5 ft 9\u00bd in)
\nPlays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
\nStarted playing tennis: Age 9
\nTurned professional: 2000
\nFinal regular WTA season: 2017
\nCurrent status: Inactive \/ former professional
\nJunior world ranking: No. 1
\nAustralian Open junior singles champion: 2001
\nCareer-high singles ranking: No. 1 (11 August 2008)
\nYear-end world No. 1: 2008
\nWeeks at world No. 1: 18
\nCareer-high doubles ranking: No. 19 (9 June 2014)
\nWTA singles titles: 15
\nWTA singles finals: 36
\nWTA doubles titles: 2
\nCareer singles record: 644\u2013370
\nBest Australian Open singles result: Semifinal (2008)
\nBest Roland Garros singles result: Semifinal (2007, 2008, 2010)
\nBest Wimbledon singles result: Fourth round (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015)
\nBest US Open singles result: Final (2008)
\nWimbledon mixed doubles champion: 2007, with Jamie Murray
\nBest Wimbledon women's doubles result: Quarterfinal (2013)
\nWTA Championships: Semifinal (2008, 2009, 2013)
\nOlympic singles: Quarterfinal (Beijing 2008)
\nFed Cup\/Billie Jean King Cup: Finalist (2012)
\nFed Cup overall record: 34\u201316
\nCareer prize money: US$19,089,259\n<\/p>\n\n

Career Trajectory<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107's career developed from junior world No. 1 and Australian Open junior champion into one of the most consistent players of the late 2000s. After winning her first WTA title in Budapest in 2004, she endured a severe confidence crisis during 2006 before recovering spectacularly to reach the US Open semifinals.<\/p>\n\n

Her breakthrough in 2007 brought four titles and a tour-leading 72 match victories. The following season she reached the Australian Open and Roland Garros semifinals, became world No. 1 and contested the US Open final before winning three consecutive autumn tournaments.<\/p>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 finished 2008 as the world's top-ranked player and remained among the elite for several more seasons. Cincinnati in 2009 and Indian Wells in 2010 added two of her largest hard-court championships, while a third Roland Garros semifinal confirmed her continuing strength on clay.<\/p>\n\n

After declining outside the Top 20, she successfully rebuilt her ranking and returned to world No. 8 in 2013. Even in her thirties she remained dangerous, reaching the 2015 Indian Wells final and winning titles in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n

Physical problems increasingly affected her final seasons, and after the 2017 US Open she ceased regular professional competition.<\/p>\n\n

Legacy<\/h3>\n\n

Jankovi\u0107 occupies an unusual position in tennis history because she reached and finished a season at world No. 1 without winning a Grand Slam singles title. This sometimes overshadowed the extraordinary consistency required to achieve her ranking.<\/p>\n\n

During 2008 she reached at least the quarterfinals in 19 of 21 tournaments, reached her first Grand Slam final and then won three consecutive tournaments during the autumn. Her No. 1 ranking therefore represented sustained performance across the entire tour rather than a single exceptional result.<\/p>\n\n

Her r\u00e9sum\u00e9 extends well beyond the ranking: 15 WTA singles titles, 36 finals, 644 victories, six Grand Slam semifinal-or-better appearances, three WTA Championships semifinals, two WTA doubles titles and a Wimbledon mixed-doubles championship.<\/p>\n\n

Assessment<\/h3>\n\n

Jelena Jankovi\u0107 was one of the finest defensive and counterpunching players of her generation. Exceptional court coverage, balance, anticipation and a world-class backhand allowed her to compete successfully against opponents with substantially greater serving and groundstroke power.<\/p>\n\n

Her backhand down the line became her signature weapon, while her ability to slide and defend on virtually every surface made her exceptionally difficult to finish points against. At her peak she combined those defensive qualities with enough aggression to dictate rallies rather than merely retrieve.<\/p>\n\n

The absence of a Grand Slam singles title remains the obvious missing achievement in an otherwise exceptional career. She came closest at the 2008 US Open, where Serena Williams defeated her in the final, and she reached five additional major semifinals without advancing to another championship match.<\/p>\n\n

Nevertheless, reaching world No. 1, finishing 2008 as year-end No. 1, spending eight seasons inside the Top 10 and accumulating more than 600 career victories place Jankovi\u0107 firmly among the outstanding players of her era. Together with Ana Ivanovi\u0107 and Novak Djokovic, she was also a central figure in Serbia's emergence as a major tennis nation during the late 2000s.<\/p>\n

all texts by ChatGPT<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

a severe inward listening. Jelena Jankovi\u0107 \u2013 Overview Jelena Jankovi\u0107 (born 28 February 1985 in Belgrade, then Yugoslavia) is a former Serbian professional tennis player and one of the most<\/p>\n

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