Jankovic will watch contenders jockey for her No.1 ranking

MELBOURNE - Jelena Jankovic can only watch as three possible pretenders struggle to seize her No.1 women’s tennis ranking, which will require a weekend title at the Australian Open.

The Serb who holds the top spot was beaten in the fourth round by Marion Bartoli. Now, the top honour could be up for grabs if Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva or Serena Williams claim the title.

The smiling Jankovic is not sweating during the drama, though, instead looking long-term at the start of another long season.

‘I’m not really thinking about that (ranking). It doesn’t matter because it’s just the beginning of the year, and there are many more tournaments to play,’ she said.

‘Maybe the ranking will change, but it’s not important what you do now, it’s the whole year ahead of us. There are a lot of tournaments, a lot of battles out there. At least for me, the most important thing is how you finish, not how you begin.’