Jankovic lives dream after nearly quitting

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Jelena Jankovic has achieved her dream of being the world's top tennis player after she almost quit the sport in 2006 following a run of poor results and niggling injuries.

The Serbian knows, though, that she still has plenty to play for after finishing the 2008 season as the world number one but without a grand slam title to her name.

"I definitely want to win one of the four biggest events next year," the 23-year-old Jankovic said in Belgrade's GEMAX tennis club at her season-ending news conference as she served friends and family with cakes and champagne.

"But I also want to keep improving and my objective is to raise my game to a new level because it's a lot more difficult to stay on top than to get there.

"I have achieved my childhood dream of being the world number one and whatever happens from now on, no one can take that away from me.

"I want to stay there for as long as possible and I will resume training at the end of this month after I have recharged my batteries. It's been a long season."

MASTERS DEFEAT

Jankovic, who turned professional in 2000, held the number one spot for a single week in August before surrendering it to compatriot Ana Ivanovic. She seized the crown again during a hat-trick of wins in September and October but failed to put the icing on the cake after bowing out of this month's Masters in Doha with a semi-final defeat to Venus Williams.

She also reached her first grand slam final, at the U.S. Open, where she lost to Serena Williams, and said she was happy with her season despite the defeat.

"Winning (a grand slam) means you are top of the world for two weeks while ending the season as the best player on the WTA Tour takes far more consistency and hard work," she said.

"Of course I would love to win all four grand slam events by the end of my career but the most important thing is that I enjoy my tennis -- it means more to me than all the silverware and prize money I have won."

Jankovic was not enjoying herself during a wretched run of 10 straight defeats in the first half of 2006, when her dream turned into a nightmare as she made one first-round exit after another from January to May.

"I wanted to hang up my racket and look for another job because I am a perfectionist and I need to bring out the best in me whatever I do for a living," she said.

"But I am a fighter and my perseverance kept me going. Deep down I knew there would be a light at the end of the tunnel if I stuck in there and didn't give up."

GYM EXERCISE

The turnaround came at Wimbledon, where Jankovic beat defending champion Venus Williams in the third round before bowing out to Anastasia Myskina.

She then reached her fifth career final at the JP Morgan Chase Open in Los Angeles and the U.S. Open semi-finals to finish the 2006 season as the world number 12, which gave her the confidence to continue the surge.

"Hours, hours and more hours of jogging, practice and gym exercise had started to pay off and I was on top of my game again, playing my best tennis.

"Now I face the tough challenge of fending off a pack of hungry rivals eager to topple me and I am looking forward to it because I want to dominate the WTA scene."

With nine WTA singles titles and $6,940,935 in prize money under her belt, Jankovic feels there is still plenty to be desired in an illustrious career she almost threw away.

"The crisis I endured a little over two years ago has only made me stronger and hungrier. I still have so much room for improvement and that's my biggest incentive to carry on."

(Editing by Clare Fallon)