Jankovic targets top-10 finish in 2017

Having plummeted to 50th in the world rankings, it almost feels unreal that Jelena Jankovic was once ranked No.1.The Serbian was a major force in 2008, when she reached the summit of women’s tennis. Jankovic was once touted as the challenger to Serena Williams; in fact she then led the rivalry with the American 3-2.That year, Jankovic became the first player to top the world rankings without reaching a Grand Slam final. However, later that year, she made a maiden appearance in the US Open final, but went down against Williams.At 22, the world was at her feet. But in the next nine years, Jankovic’s fortunes nosedived as she neither made it to another major final, nor back to No.1.Last year was even more frustrating for Jankovic, as she battled poor form and two ruptures in her shoulder muscles.Now 31, the Serbian is keen to mount back in the circuit as she targets a top-10 finish in 2017.And she will be hoping her fortune changes in Doha. Playing in the qualifiers for the first time since 2004, Jankovic sealed her place in the main draw of the Qatar Total Open, which began yesterday.The Serbian rolled back years at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in chilly conditions as she beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 in a match lasting over two and a half hours.As rain threatened to interrupt the proceedings and extreme wind made it uncomfortable for the players and spectators alike, Jankovic held her nerve to get past a plucky Pironkova, who saved two match points in the second set.Jankovic came into the match boasting an impressive 6-0 head-to-head record against Pironkova, and she began the match in a dominating fashion.She wrapped up the first set in quick time, breaking three times while Pironkova, with 13 unforced errors, struggled to find her range and timing.But Pironkova broke first in the second set to jump into a 4-1 lead, before Jankovic regained her focus. The Serb got back on level terms and forced a tiebreak and looked to be firmly on course for the main draw.But she squandered two match points at 5-4, to lose the next four points and with it the set.Jankovic, however, come out on top of a topsy-turvy final set and notch a seventh win over Pironkova. In her first round match today, Jankovic will take on Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who has a 5-2 advantage over the Serb, having also won their last two matches.“I am glad I was even able to play in the qualifiers because I was not even in the draw as I got a wild card. I am thankful for that opportunity and luckily I was able to win the three rounds and here I am in the main draw again,” said Jankovic, who lost in the second round in Doha last year.“It’s been a long time (2004) since I have played in the qualifiers. I had a tough last year with lot of injuries. Now, I need to make a comeback and get my ranking up,” she added.Three other qualifiers were decided yesterday, with Americans Christina McHale, Madison Brengle and Lauren Davis sealing their spots in the main draw.McHale beat Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 7-6, 6-4 in the final round of qualifying. In her opening round today, the American will play sixth seed Elena Vesnina of Russia, who is ranked No. 15 in the world.Brengle brushed aside Chinese Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-1 to make it into the main draw. She will take on Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia next.Davis had an easy passage as her opponent Camila Giorgi of Italy was forced into retirement with the score at 7-5, 2-5. Davis is set to face veteran Roberta Vinci of Italy.The top four seeds — Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska — will not in been in action today, having received a first round bye.Order of PlayCentre Court (Starting at 2pm)* Q-Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)* Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Kiki Bertens (NED)* 5-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs WC-Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR)* 8-Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs WC-Fatma al-Nabhani (OMA)Not before 8pm* Laura Siegemund (GER) vs Monica Puig (PUR)Court 1 (Starting at 2pm)* Roberta Vinci (ITA) vs Q-Lauren Davis (USA)* Q-Madison Brengle (USA) vs Caroline Garcia (FRA)* Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs 7-Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)Court 2 (Starting at 2pm)* Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) vs Daria Kasatkina (RUS)* Q-Christina McHale (USA) vs 6-Elena Vesnina (RUS)Not before 5pm (TBA after suitable rest)* Katerina Bondarenko (UKR)/Elena Vesnina (RUS) vs Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)/Darija Jurak (CRO)