Why Jelena Jankovic is and deserves #1

[benz1]

A lot of people are trashing Jelena Jankovic and most of its not true. Everyone says its crazy that she is #1 when its not. The WTA ranking system rewards consitency and Jelena has been the most consistent player. She's been to 20 quarterfinals this year, 3 titles, leads most match wins on the tour, was first to qualify for the Championshipd in Doha and her worst grand slam showing was 4th round.

I hate it when people say she is undeserving of the top spot and I think in 2009 she'll definently show people what she has.

And we have to remember that her breakout year was last year in 2007 and she is only 23.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Well, I'm a big fan of Jelena and I have no problem with her being number 1.

She'll win a slam eventually, she just needs a little more time. Until then I guess we'll just have to put up with the haters.

 

[gj011]

Agreed. I can't understand all these whiners as well.

I explained all the reasons in the other thread.

 

[TheTruth]

Agreed. Jelena has definitely earned the top spot. I love watching her play!

 

[BallzofSkill]

who cares.
the only serb. worth talking about is ana ivanovic and it's not even for her tennis.

 

[flying24]

It is a shame there has to be a WTA #1 right now. Justine's #1 should just remain frozen until someone else plays well enough to deserve it.

 

[BallzofSkill]

^i check jankovic's h2h against justine and it's 0-9 and she's 1-6 against ivanovic. how pathetic is that?

 

[Mick]

Well, I'm a big fan of Jelena and I have no problem with her being number 1.

She'll win a slam eventually, she just needs a little more time. Until then I guess we'll just have to put up with the haters.

I am surprised that the haters even follow WTA matches, with the competition being so bad (according to them)

 

[Lionheart392]

It is a shame there has to be a WTA #1 right now. Justine's #1 should just remain frozen until someone else plays well enough to deserve it.

"well enough" is totally subjective though and wouldn't be fair, plus people seem to assume that if Justine hadn't retired she'd still be dominating right now. She was getting beaten badly this year, for example her 6-4, 6-0 loss to Sharapova at AO and 6-2, 6-0 loss to Serena at Miami. Her passion was gone and her tennis suffered accordingly, something she herself admitted.
IMO Jankovic does deserve the no.1 spot. Surely the no.1 spot reflects the player whose performance has been the best recently, which clearly goes to Jankovic. If you think she's such a terrible no.1, then what does that say about the players ranked below her? Maybe the hatred for Jelena is misdirected. Well in any case, I personally think there's no one else who deserves the top spot more than her right now.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

^i check jankovic's h2h against justine and it's 0-9 and she's 1-6 against ivanovic. how pathetic is that?

I'm guessing that most of those matches with Justine were before Jankovic was playing her best tennis.

Besides, listing head to head records proves very little. Jankovic leads Venus Williams 5-3, how do you explain that?

 

[Lionheart392]

Plus a lot of Jankovic's matches with Henin were close, several of them being 3 sets with plenty of tiebreaks and 7-5'ers. Jankovic choked a few of them too, particularly their 2006 US Open semifinal when Jankovic was up a set and leading 4-2, with a game point. She then argued with the umpire and had a total meltdown, double-faulting and losing the next 10 games. She also had a 4-0 lead in the final set of their 2007 Berlin Open match, and in Toronto last year, where she lead 4-1 in the first set and 4-2 in the second but lost both. Of course mental strength is a huge part of tennis and Henin rightly took advantage and deserved those wins, I'm just trying to say that Jankovic wasn't thrashed every time, she was fully capable of giving Justine a tough time.

 

[JakeHCoker]

I don't follow up on the Wemon's tennis as much anymore, but I remember Jankovic has always been a great player to me, especially with all she puts into it. I thinks it's great she's #1

 

[BallzofSkill]

doesn't matter if she's thrashed or not, because how badly one is beaten or how well one beats the opponent doesn't figure differently into the rankings. you don't get extra points because you bagel your opponent. But going 0-9 and 1-6 against henin and ivanovic? come on.

give her the number 1, make the serb. fans happy, who cares.

 

[gj011]

doesn't matter if she's thrashed or not, because how badly one is beaten or how well one beats the opponent doesn't figure differently into the rankings. you don't get extra points because you bagel your opponent. But going 0-9 and 1-6 against henin and ivanovic? come on.

give her the number 1, make the serb. fans happy, who cares.

This guy is a troll. This is not the first time he behaves like this. Just ignore his hater troll posts.

 

[ThugNasty]

Jankovic sucks. congrats on her for taking her opportunity at World number 1 when all the good players are out.

 

[ThugNasty]

This guy is a troll. This is not the first time he behaves like this. Just ignore his hater troll posts.

Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone starts a thread about federer.

 

[grafrules]

^i check jankovic's h2h against justine and it's 0-9 and she's 1-6 against ivanovic. how pathetic is that?

I agree. Definitely not #1 material. Heck even Ivanovic would be a better #1 then Jankovic. Atleast she has reached 3 slam finalst at a young age, won a slam already, and has good head to heads with people outside of the Williams who she hasnt even played that often yet. Jankovic at #1 just makes people laugh.

 

[grafrules]

We have to do the same to your posts every time you flip out when someone writes the word "federer".

or when someone says anything that isnt ultra positive about Djokovic, Jankovic, or Ivanovic.

 

[gj011]

Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone starts a thread about federer.

Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone says anything that isn't ultra positive about Federer.

or when someone says anything that isnt ultra positive about Djokovic, Jankovic, or Ivanovic.

Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone says anything that isn't ultra positive about Günther Parche.

 

[gj011]

I agree. Definitely not #1 material. Heck even Ivanovic would be a better #1 then Jankovic. Atleast she has reached 3 slam finalst at a young age, won a slam already, and has good head to heads with people outside of the Williams who she hasnt even played that often yet. Jankovic at #1 just makes people laugh.

Well she is currently the best in this world and all you can do about it is to whine, hate and make people laugh at your ignorant silly posts.

Could you please explain us once more how Graf would clearly dominate any women field from 1826 to 2396. Seles and any other obstacles would be removed if necessary by any means to prove you right.

 

[ThugNasty]

Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone says anything that isn't ultra positive about Federer.



Relax man, we have to ignore your stupid troll posts every time someone says anything that isn't ultra positive about Günther Parche.

:lol: i ignore a lot of the times, unlike you who writes those stupid 10 character posts on every damn fed thread. Pretty pathetic, you probably have an itching to click on the threads.

 

[gj011]

:lol: i ignore a lot of the times, unlike you who writes those stupid 10 character posts on every damn fed thread. Pretty pathetic, you probably have an itching to click on the threads.

Ignore starting in 3, 2, 1...

 

[ThugNasty]

Ignore starting in 3, 2, 1...

Congratulations man.

 

[grafrules]

:lol: i ignore a lot of the times, unlike you who writes those stupid 10 character posts on every damn fed thread. Pretty pathetic, you probably have an itching to click on the threads.

Well why not. We see in his avatar what he is doing all the time if he isnt moaning and complaining on this site. I guess if that is the only alternative in his life we should sympathize. :twisted:

 

[norbac]

I'm a big fan of hers,I know she will win a Slam soon.

 

[grafrules]

I'm a big fan of hers,I know she will win a Slam soon.

and I hope she does as well. It is HUGE and I mean really essential for her credibility as a top player that she does win a slam sooner rather then later. Especialy now that she is reaching the point of taking over the #1 ranking for any periods of time, it becomes an even bigger moniker as long as she is without a slam title. So I hope for her sake she does get one soon.

 

[RF007]

Given the current field, she is very deserving

Given the way the fall has gone these past few years, it's refreshing to see that Jankovic is still kicking butt and taking names after having spent so much of 2008 in the first-class transit lounges of this world. You can be a cynic about this and put it down to greed (for prize money as well as ranking points), but as someone on Wall Street once said, "greed is good." It certainly is in tennis.

So let's give Jankovic a ton of credit as a model WTA citizen who gets it when it comes to the idea behind a world tour and an 11-month game culminating in a year-end playoffs. And you know what? Judging by her scheduling, you could easily conclude that the WTA is dominated by a chorus of "No we can't" divas who just may be pampered, highly-paid, borderline lazy beneficiaries of a sport that's become an entitlement program for elite stars. Jankovic simply embarrasses the rest of the tour with her work ethic and willingness to seize opportunities to play -- isn't that what pro tennis players have always wanted?

 

[hewittboy]

Given the current field

Very telling phrase.

 

[Ripster]

I think she definitely deserves the number 1 ranking especially after her amazing September/October.

Hopefully these talks about her being a weak number 1 will come to an end.

I can pretty much guarantee she'll win a Grand Slam title in 2009.

 

[wta_fan]

Besides her results, is a fact Jelena is getting better and better. Its not like everybody else sucks and she's the only one taking the opportinuty. I think this years US open was her big break. She struggled on ealry rounds but was smart enough to win the matches easier as it went on. She struggle vs. Wozniacki but then leveled up her game to take Dementieva out in 2 and what everybody thought would be a one sided match turned out to be an nerve-wracking match and one of the best GS finals in years. And we know her results since then.

Tennis aside, i think JJ is the best thing that could happend to the WTA right now, because she's different, she does things nobody else do at the court, for once: interact with other players.

Is she in the same level as Henin, Serena, Venus?...no way. Is she a player on the edge of her peak. Absolutely, and its way too much fun to miss.

 

[Alexandros]

At least when Clijsters took the number 1 spot without having won a slam she had 9 titles that year (2003), three of which were tier 1 titles. She made two grand slam finals and two semifinals.

Jankovic has only three titles this year (one tier 1), 1 slam final, two semis and 1 fourth round exit.

 

[gj011]

Because the same silly arguments are reprated ad nauseam I will repeat my posts in the other thread as well.

No matter what are your guys preferences, rankings don't lie. Jankovic is the best player this year so far if you look the whole year overall, despite being injured and not playing her best during most of the summer. Also she is playing a really good tennis at the moment.

Jankovic is the only player on the tour that played on 3 GS SFs this year, and was at least in QF or better in every single tournament she entered, with one exception. Ranking system rewards that, like it or not.

People often forget that not only titles counts when in comes to rankings and there is a good reason for that. Also the number of tournaments that counts toward ranking it limited to 17 so quantity is not valued over quality by any stretch, like some here are trying to imply.

At the end Jankovic is not the first nor last player that got #1 ranking without winning the slam (Mauresmo, Clijsters).

Show at least some respect to the new/old #1.

 

[gj011]

The ranking system is the best it could be and don't lie.

Also I would like to hear who is, according to you whiners, right now, at this moment, more deserving to be the #1 than Jelena Jankovic. Who is the better player if you look both, the current form and the last year as a whole?

For example:
1. Serena just lost in the first round, lost to Jankovic in AO, got embaressed in the FO, ...
2. Venus lost all her matches against Jankovic this year, got also embaressed in FO as well, lost to Ana in AO, ...
3. Safina didn't win a title since summer, had terrible first half of the season, ...
4. Ivanovic was the best player of the year up to the FO (AO final, IW, FO, ...), but was terrible since June
5. Dementieva also does not have a GS title.
6. Sharapova is injured and didn't play a good tournament since AO.
7. Kusnetsova does not have a single title this year, made just one GS SF.

Just don't tell me that nobody should be #1, since someone has to be the #1 at any moment, that is the nature of things.
Also don't mention Henin since she is retired and also didn't play good at all the whole 2008 before her retirement.

 

[gj011]

There is no imaginary "minimum level acceptable for a #1". Whoever has the best results in the last 52 weeks and accumulate the most points is the #1. It is as simple as that. The level they are playing at and useless comparisons with other eras are completely irrelevant when it comes to current ranking and who is the current #1.

Also no matter what you guys say or feel, all these girls at the top can play good quality tennis. Did any of you guys watched say USO final (Jankovic-Serena), Stuttgart SF (Jankovic-Venus), FO SFs (both Ivanovic-Jankovic and Safina-Kuznetsova), ... All great matches.

You can't just leave 3 empty spots at the top since you feel like it, or because players are too close and there is no one or two players that clearly dominate the tour.

Actually I find it more interesting and exciting this way, than say, one player leading by 3000 points and winning at least three slams per year with no real competition.

 

[hewittboy]

At least when Clijsters took the number 1 spot without having won a slam she had 9 titles that year (2003), three of which were tier 1 titles. She made two grand slam finals and two semifinals.

Jankovic has only three titles this year (one tier 1), 1 slam final, two semis and 1 fourth round exit.

Very well said. People should remember Clijsters was RIPPED by people the whole time she was #1 as the slamless #1. Yet she still had far more results and was a far better overall player when she reached #1 then Jankovic is today. Yet even she was ridiculed to some extent. So what on earth do people expect is going to happen to Jankovic who has far less results and is far less good a player then even the heavily criticized #1 part of 2003 Clijsters was.

 

[gj011]

Very well said. People should remember Clijsters was RIPPED by people the whole time she was #1 as the slamless #1. Yet she still had far more results and was a far better overall player when she reached #1 then Jankovic is today. Yet even she was ridiculed to some extent. So what on earth do people expect is going to happen to Jankovic who has far less results and is far less good a player then even the heavily criticized #1 part of 2003 Clijsters was.

Clijsters was "ripped" by the same kind of stupid and ignorant people, Jankovic is "ripped" by now.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

or when someone says anything that isnt ultra positive about Djokovic, Jankovic, or Ivanovic.

like you and Graf? no? what a pitty you dont have mirrors in your house..

 

[RF007]

Here's a nice article on JJ being no. 1:
http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2008/10/looking-out-for.html

 

[hewittboy]

Clijsters was "ripped" by the same kind of stupid and ignorant people, Jankovic is "ripped" by now.

or maybe she was ripped by people who were disturbed by the same thing people are disturbed by now with Jankovic. A slamless player getting to #1. If Kim had won 1 of those slam finals or semis she choked in there wouldnt be so much negativity around her rise to #1. In tennis the 4 biggest events are the 4 grand slams, and there are 4 of them a year. What is so wrong with expecting a player who is being crowned as best in the year to have atleast once won one of the 4 biggest events that are held every single year. Same for Jelena now. There are 4 events that are bigger then all others in tennis. If Jelena deserves to be #1 why cant she just go and win one of those events to prove it. She has 4 chances every single year, I would say that is plenty.

The ripping the players get is unfair I agree however. It is the fault of the WTA. The fault of the WTA for their foolish ranking system. A more accurate ranking system should be something closer to the ATP. For the WTA maybe have 13 tournaments count, the 4 grand slams, your best 5 tier 1 results, your 3 best non tier 1 events, and the year end Championships for those who qualify. Widen the gap between points awarded for slams and other events. Make a system that is as hard as possible to have a slamless #1, and if there is the gap in their other results has to be that much more then it is now.

 

[soyizgood]

The ripping the players get is unfair I agree however. It is the fault of the WTA. The fault of the WTA for their foolish ranking system. A more accurate ranking system should be something closer to the ATP. For the WTA maybe have 13 tournaments count, the 4 grand slams, your best 5 tier 1 results, your 3 best non tier 1 events, and the year end Championships for those who qualify. Widen the gap between points awarded for slams and other events. Make a system that is as hard as possible to have a slamless #1, and if there is the gap in their other results has to be that much more then it is now.

Even on the ATP you could get to #1 without a slam. 4 Majors = 4000 pts, 9 Master's = 4500 points. The ATP has been trying for years to undermine the ITF's influence over the circuit (i.e. the snafu about making Master's 1000 points and initially keeping the Slams at 1000 points, making Master's mandatory with penalties for missing them, etc.). The Men's side has been fortunate not to have had this "problem" for a while.

 

[djsiva]

What is wrong with her face?

 

[OrangePower]

Of course Jelena deserves it. Her results have given her more points than anyone else. Can't argue that. Congratulations to her.

BUT: It's sad that all the other top women are not playing up to their potential, because of injury, motivation, or whatever, thus leaving the door wide open for Jelena. I would much rather see the #1 get to that position by outplaying other top players all playing at their best, rather than by default because the others are all falling by the wayside.

 

[Michael Bluth]

I think next year Jelena can get a slam, either AO, FO, or USO.

 

[gj011]

or maybe she was ripped by people who were disturbed by the same thing people are disturbed by now with Jankovic. A slamless player getting to #1. If Kim had won 1 of those slam finals or semis she choked in there wouldnt be so much negativity around her rise to #1. In tennis the 4 biggest events are the 4 grand slams, and there are 4 of them a year. What is so wrong with expecting a player who is being crowned as best in the year to have atleast once won one of the 4 biggest events that are held every single year. Same for Jelena now. There are 4 events that are bigger then all others in tennis. If Jelena deserves to be #1 why cant she just go and win one of those events to prove it. She has 4 chances every single year, I would say that is plenty.

The ripping the players get is unfair I agree however. It is the fault of the WTA. The fault of the WTA for their foolish ranking system. A more accurate ranking system should be something closer to the ATP. For the WTA maybe have 13 tournaments count, the 4 grand slams, your best 5 tier 1 results, your 3 best non tier 1 events, and the year end Championships for those who qualify. Widen the gap between points awarded for slams and other events. Make a system that is as hard as possible to have a slamless #1, and if there is the gap in their other results has to be that much more then it is now.

Let me put it this way. Which of the four GS winners this year should be the #1 at the moment, and which one is more "deserving" of the top ranking and why?

1. Sharapova
2. Ivanovic
3. Venus
4. Serena

It is clear that it is none of them.

 

[hewittboy]

Let me put it this way. Which of the four GS winners this year should be the #1 at the moment, and which one is more "deserving" of the top ranking and why?

1. Sharapova
2. Ivanovic
3. Venus
4. Serena

It is clear that it is none of them.

Serena. She has 4 tournament titles, 1 more then Jelena who has 3. She has two tier 1 titles to Serena's 1. She has two slam finals to Jelena's 1. All that and she has the all important slam title this year which Jelena lacks. That is more then enough for me. It is not like you in Serena you are talking about someone who won a slam title and did nothing else the rest of the year.

 

[Lionheart392]

Serena. She has 4 tournament titles, 1 more then Jelena who has 3. She has two tier 1 titles to Serena's 1. She has two slam finals to Jelena's 1. All that and she has the all important slam title this year which Jelena lacks. That is more then enough for me. It is not like you in Serena you are talking about someone who won a slam title and did nothing else the rest of the year.

But Serena is a part-time player who will never hold onto the no.1 spot very long without playing a full schedule. Those who do will of course rack up more points and overtake her, and rightly so.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

Jelena is where she is at because she has put the work in, like it or not. I love her charisma on court and what she brings to the game. Martina did it without taking a single grand slam title, so did Lindsay Davenport. Give credit to where it is due. Tennis to me is a revolving door, and at this time we have to give it to JJ and her effort. End of story!!!!

There are a few things I dislike about her, but at the same time I can hate this girl. Come to the end of the 2008 season, whoever is left standing on top, they deserve it.

I pray to god that Doha will provide some spectacular tennis.


Go WTA Tennis!!!

Yeah.. I am the Ambassador now. :twisted:

 

[mrDamien]

Jelena is where she is at because she has put the work in, like it or not. I love her charisma on court and what she brings to the game. Martina did it without taking a single grand slam title, so did Lindsay Davenport. Give credit to where it is due. Tennis to me is a revolving door, and at this time we have to give it to JJ and her effort. End of story!!!!

There are a few things I dislike about her, but at the same time I can hate this girl. Come to the end of the 2008 season, whoever is left standing on top, they deserve it.

I pray to god that Doha will provide some spectacular tennis.


Go WTA Tennis!!!

Yeah.. I am the Ambassador now. :twisted:

You love her and at the same time hate her too . By the way nothing is shine without the one on court. A bit dull and bored as well. Don't you notice that?

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

You love her and at the same time hate her too . By the way nothing is shine without the one on court. A bit dull and bored as well. Don't you notice that?

I don't care, at the same time Jelena brings a lot to the game in terms of her charisma. She will always be a drama queen, that's her billing. At the same time she has put the work in, look at her 1st round at the Australian Open match in its entirety to this date. It might be dull, but who am I trying to appease MrDamien? You?:?

 

[mrDamien]

I don't care, at the same time Jelena brings a lot to the game in terms of her charisma. She will always be a drama queen, that's her billing. At the same time she has put the work in, look at her 1st round at the Australian Open match in its entirety to this date. It might be dull, but who am I trying to appease MrDamien? You?:?

Neither of me care and concern about her entire season. As far as i noticed she quite good in complaining on court when she started to lose a point. Doesn't look to stay cool at all. By the way are you confirm travel to AO 2009?