2008: World No. 1 and First Grand Slam Final Jelena Janković

janković in 2008 australian open.

janković lost in semifinals of australian open eventual champion maria sharapova in straight sets, having defeated defending champion serena williams en route. in march @ tier pacific life open in indian wells, california, janković lost in semifinals ana ivanovic. following fortnight, janković reached first final of year @ miami masters, losing serena williams in 3 sets.

janković started clay-court season losing in quarterfinals of both family circle cup in charleston, south carolina , qatar telecom german open in berlin. janković defended tier internazionali bnl d italia title in rome, after defeating venus williams in 3 sets in quarterfinals, receiving walkover injured sharapova in semifinals, , defeating french teenager alizé cornet in final. janković s first singles title of year. went french open among favorites, following sudden retirement of four-time champion justine henin. however, lost compatriot , eventual champion ivanovic after leading break in third set. janković player win set against ivanovic during entire tournament. marked janković s fourth defeat in 4 career grand slam semifinals. have become world no. 1 had reached final. however, did reach new career-high of world no. 2 in week following tournament.

janković on court @ 2008 wta tour championships.

at wimbledon, janković injured knee during third-round match against caroline wozniacki. although won match, visibly hindered during fourth-round loss tamarine tanasugarn. janković have become world no. 1 had reached semifinals of tournament. however, lost tamarine tanasugarn in fourth round. janković squandered 2 further opportunities take world no. 1 position losses in semifinals of east west bank classic in los angeles dinara safina , quarterfinals of rogers cup in montreal, dominika cibulková. janković did replace ivanovic world no. 1 on 11 august 2008. 18th woman have been ranked world no. 1 women s tennis association, first woman have done without ever having reached grand slam final , third woman (the others being amélie mauresmo , kim clijsters) have become world no. 1 without first winning grand slam title.

janković s reign world no. 1 lasted 1 week, after lost in quarterfinals of beijing olympics eventual silver-medalist safina. meant ivanovic reclaimed world no. 1 position. janković second seed @ open, defeated olympic gold-medalist elena dementieva in semifinals reach first grand slam final. there, lost fourth-seeded serena williams. janković have reclaimed world no. 1 position if had won event.

janković became world no. 1 again during fall in midst of winning 3 consecutive tournaments. @ china open, janković defeated svetlana kuznetsova in 2 sets win title. following week, janković played in porsche tennis grand prix in stuttgart, germany, defeated venus williams in semifinals , nadia petrova in final. in kremlin cup in moscow, janković defeated defending champion dementieva in semifinals before triumphing against vera zvonareva in final third title in 3 weeks, first time player on wta tour since 2005. top seed @ year-end 2008 wta tour championships held in doha, qatar, janković won 2 of 3 round-robin matches, including second win of career on ivanovic. however, lost in semifinals, eventual champion venus williams , ended year world no. 1. in all, janković lost eventual champions @ 6 tournaments (including 3 grand slam tournaments) during season. janković later named itf world champion performance in 2008. won 4 titles during season, of on tour along serena williams , safina.

the olympic committee of serbia declared best sportswoman second year in row.