Tennis Chatter

This time nobody stole Jeca’s thunder. Jelena Jankovic opened 2007 with a win by earning her second title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. She convincingly defeated fifth-seed Russian Vera Zvonareva 7-6(9), 5-7, 6-3 in an almost three-hour match.

The 21-year old Serbian is one of most talented players to watch this year in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. It would seem that she is determined to put her experience during the first half of 2006 way behind her. The sometimes tempestuous player (recall the U.S. Open flareup with the umpire during her match with Henin-Hardenne) had the misfortune of losing her opening matches ten times in a row between January to May 2006. Out of sheer frustration, the 2001 former Junior No. 1 almost traded her racket for a college diploma.

She was the best student in all the schools she has attended (Serbian, French, American schools). The premium that Jelena is putting on a university education is a logical offshoot of having economists as parents in a close-knit family. It continues to be a big goal in her life. A very wise decision, indeed it is!

Jelena’s breakthrough year happened in May 2004 when she won her first WTA Tour singles title in Budapest. She had her taste of what the possibility would look like in the big arena of tennis in the second half of 2006 when she beat Russian Elena Dementieva in straight sets in the 2006 U.S. Open to reach the semifinals before eventual finalist Justine Henin-Hardenne took her out of contention.

Her mean forehand is a weapon of choice and her two-handed backhand is not to be underestimated in producing winners (ask Serena Williams how she struggled in their 2005 semifinal match in Dubai).

Jelena is one of the most animated and articulate tennis players in the tour. She is currently ranked no. 12 in the world.

Here’s to the hope that she will be more consistent this year.