Former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia revealed that she almost stopped loving tennis when her ranking slid out of the world’s top 30. The Serbian posted strong results in the second half of the season which were enough to make a return in the world’s top ten and qualify for the season-ending WTA Championships for the fifth time in her career.
“Once you’re used to being in the top and winning a lot of matches, and once that changes, you don’t enjoy it,” Jankovic said, who reached the rankings summit 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. 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,” she added.
Jankovic said that she still has a lot to offer.
“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. 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.”
