Germany - Serbia - tennis - WTA

Jankovic to regain world number one ranking

Sunday 05 October 2008

Jelena Jankovic won the Stuttgart WTA event by defeating the Russian Nadia Petrova. Following Serena Williams's loss in the second round, the Serbian tennis player will regain the world number one ranking.

Jelena Jankovic will regain her world number one ranking on Monday less than 24 hours after winning Stuttgart's WTA event with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Nadia Petrova in Sunday's final.

With world number one Serena Williams losing in the second round here last week, Jankovic will reclaim top spot after capturing her second consecutive WTA title after taking the China Open title in Beijing.

"I am really excited about winning here, it's my second win in two weeks and my confidence is high," said Jankovic.

"I played some good tennis this week and I am proud of myself."

Jankovic must now choose between the prize of a brand-new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabrio or 98,500 dollars of prize money.

She joked: "I already have a Turbo, so why not the Carrera as well?"

The 23-year-old Serb started with a hiss and a roar as she raced into a 2-0 lead after breaking Petrova in the first game and it proved to be enough to take the first set 6-4 after 46 minutes.

Petrova, the 2006 Stuttgart champion, is playing well above her ranking of 18th in the world, having won the Cincinnati tournament in August, and she broke Jankovic for the first time to level the second set 3-3.

Having beaten Venus Williams in Saturday's semi-final despite losing the first set, Jankovic again responded in style by breaking her opponent back and hold her service to take a 5-3 lead.

"I had gone a bit flat in the second set, that is normal because I have played a lot of games, but I wanted to respond and I found another gear," said Jankovic.

"It was important to re-establish myself at that point in the game."

She broke Petrova again to claim the second set - and the match - 6-3 to claim her third WTA title of the season after wins in Rome and Beijing.

Having broken a toe nail in Friday's quarter-final win over Russia's Vera Zvonareva, Jankovic again received pain-killing injections before the game.

"With the injections, I didn't feel a thing when I was playing," she said.

"But two or three hours after the game the pain kicks in and it hurts a lot, it will take a lot of time for the nail to grow back.

"The physio has told me to wear flip-flops for the flight home.

"But it's winter here - I want to wear boots."

Beaten-finalist Petrova praised the new champion and said she has taken plenty of heart from her run to the final.

"I fought hard for everything out there, but it wasn't to be," admitted the Russian.

"I'd like to congratulate Jelena, she is having an amazing run at the moment and this is another win for her.

"I tried my best here and I am looking forward to coming back to Stuttgart again."