Jelena Jankovic has already clinched the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour No. 1 ranking, but on Sunday, she will go for another prize, a new Porsche for her garage in Serbia.
Jankovic, the second seed at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, will face unseeded Nadia Petrova in the championship match.
The 23-year-old Serbian star has won five of their eight previous meetings, including their most recent meeting in the quarterfinals at Los Angeles this summer.
“It’s not easy playing Nadia,” said Jelena Jankovic, who beat 2008 Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the semifinals. “She’s an excellent player indoors but I’ll give it my all tomorrow trying to win my second tournament in two weeks.”
Although her third title of 2008 is tempting, the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet is an added inducement for a victory.
“It’d be great to see the car in my garage,” said Jankovic. “I’ve already got a red 911 Turbo but why not a Carrera as well.”
Nadia Petrova is not an unfamiliar face to the fans in Stuttgart. She won the title in 2006, but has struggled recently with inconsistent results.
“It’s great to be back in the final,” said currently ranked No. 18 Petrova. “I’m playing my best tennis at the moment. It’s especially pleasing as I feel I’m getting close to the top again. All the work I did at the beginning of the year is paying off. I’ve got my focus back, am concentrated and am following my game plan. Things are going well.”
Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Patty Schnyder will face title holders and top seeds Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs in the doubles final.
