NAGPUR ORANGERS' JELENA JANKOVIC was one of the leading tennis players on the WTA Tour a few years back. The Serb also reached her maiden final of a Grand Slam at the US Open in 2008 and in the same year attained the World no.1 rankings in the singles circuit.
However, recurring injuries derailed Jankovic’s form and consistency over the years, owing to which her ranking too has suffered. Today, the Serbian is ranked no.21 in the singles and is still considered a formidable opponent across surfaces.
Jankovic is currently playing the Champions Tennis League (CTL) and has shown signs of great ball striking from the baseline. Talking to a few reporters during the tournament, the 30-year-old expressed her strong desire to get back to the top of the women’s game.
“To come back to [the] top, improve my game and be in good shape. That is the primary goal. Injuries were stopping [me] not only physically, but [also] mentally. Every time I had to come back, I had to start from there [scratch]. In the last couple of months, I have been able to get that consistency on a daily basis.”