Jankovic on Henin: ‘I will find a way to beat her’
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jun 27, 2007 | Print
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Justine Henin had better watch her back.
Jelena Jankovic has taken a look at the draw and knows just who she would like another shot at in the semifinals.
One would think that Jelena would have gotten tired by now of being beaten by the hands of Justine Henin, but it is actually quite the opposite. Instead of cowering or wringing her hands in woe, Jelena Jankovic is ready to bring it on.
Not every player is always quite so eager to avenge herself.
No doubt Martina Hingis was so relieved when Kim Clijsters retired earlier this spring that she should probably have sent her a thank you card. Clijsters, who was known for being a favorite in the players lounge, was certainly not the Swiss Miss’ favorite on court. She stopped Martina in two Grand Slams last year and at the Australian Open in January, each time in the quarterfinals.
It got to the point where Hingis was joking, although I’m not convinced it was really not in earnest, that she never wanted to face Clijsters in the quarterfinals again.
“It’s great playing her [Clijsters] and everything,” laughed Hingis after losing to Clijsters in Melbourne earlier this season. “But I don’t want to see her in the quarterfinals ever again. It’s like every time I get to the quarters I have to face Kim.”
For Jelena Jankovic, her troubles don’t usually start in the quarterfinals, but the semifinals, where a chance to play for the title is just a few points away.
Furthermore, it has not been only Grand Slam semifinals; lately it has been almost every tournament where she and Justine Henin are both competing. So much that Jankovic attributed her third title of the season, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, to Justine’s absence.
“I won this tournament and you know why,” joked Jankovic after winning the trophy. “Because Henin didn’t come. That was the reason. Because the last two tournaments the player who I tend to lose to, it was Justine.”
It didn’t get much better as Jelena headed into Roland Garros. She breezed through to the semifinals, but was once again stopped dead in her tracks by a familiar foe. You guessed it - Justine Henin.
Now it is time for another Grand Slam, and once again as the seedings would have it, the J duo are again in the same half.
Was Jankovic surprised by the draw? Not really, after all, she’s starting to get used to it.
“It’s always the same,” said Jankovic today at Wimbledon. “I don’t get any different draw. Lately it’s always her.”
With four losses already in the can from this season alone, Jankovic has even resorted to watching DVD’s of their matches to figure out what went wrong.
“I’m learning from each time,” remonstrated Jankovic. “I feel that there is little things that make the difference, so I’m trying to see what those things are and trying to find the tactics.”
“She came up really strong, and I watched the DVDs after I lost against her at the French Open, and I saw what she did right and what I did wrong. So maybe next time, and I think on the faster surface I have for sure a bigger chance than on clay.”
Another potential meeting with Justine Henin is still four rounds away, but Jankovic denies that she would appreciate it if someone else did the job for her and bumped off Henin before she could reach the semifinals.
“If you want to be the best in the world, you have to beat the best players in the world,” said Jankovic. “You don’t want that Serena beats Justine or whatever. I want whoever is the best, I want to pair up against that player and see where my level is at, see what I have to work on.”
Regardless of when it happens, Jankovic believes that sooner or later, she is going to finally win.
“But I will find a way to beat her,” added Jankovic.
“It doesn’t matter, she can beat me 20 times. I’m still up there, I’m not going to give up.”
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Richard | Jun 27, 2007 | Reply
Man I love this girl. Great attitude, and just what women’s tennis needs. She’s just what, 22? Hopefully this Grand Slam is all hers, though I think she’ll break through on hardcourts first.
Steven | Jun 27, 2007 | Reply
I really like Jankovic, and her amazing attitude. She deserves to be in the top five, and no, I don’t think Justine’s absence is the reason she won in Rome. We’ll never know of course what might have happened.
That said, Justine will go down as one of the greats in my opinion, with
four or five years yet to play. The greats in tennis raise the bar and challenge the field to do the same. Jankovic sees Justine’s formidible
all-court game as a challenge, and uses it for motivation. Good on her, I’m sure Justine would nod in approval.
Aaress | Jun 28, 2007 | Reply
Richard, Jelena is only 22 and like Steven said, with several years still ahead of her, I would not be surprised to see her at No. 1 in the next couple of years.
The only person really standing in her way is Justine.
Nick | Jun 28, 2007 | Reply
Jelena is really funny, I love her…it’s funny how obsessed she is with Justine, but I would too if I keep on losing to someone who I know I can beat!