Jelena Jankovic - Australian Open Women's Tennis Players

Although she has yet to win a Grand Slam title, the 23-year-old Serb is quickly reaching the peak of her short career. She is currently ranked no. 2 in the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) rankings after having a brief stint at the number 1 spot.  Can she become one of the foremost Australian Open 2009 women's tennis players?

Jelena Jankovic has matched the legendary Chrissie Evert, American champion in the 1970s, when she became the 2^nd player ever to win 50 matches in just 6 months.

Although temperamental, Jankovic has taken on the best in women's tennis and has consistently beaten some of the biggest champions, including French sensation, Amelie Mauresmo, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Swiss 'comeback' star, Martina Hingis and former world no. 1, Kim Clijsters.

The 'Smiling Serb', as she has been dubbed, has already had success at the Australian Open - as a junior she won the 2001 tournament.

Her Grand Slam record to date:

• She was defeated by Jill Craybas in the second round of the Australian Open 2004
• At the French Open 2006 she caused an upset by defeating seeded Marion Bartoli, before succumbing to world no. 1, Mauresmo
• At Wimbledon in 2006, she stunned the crowd by defeating defending champion, Venus Williams in the 3^rd round
• She reached the semifinals of the 2006 US Open, by defeating 2004 US Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round, and Elena Dementieva, 2004 US Open and French Open finalist, in the quarterfinals. She was narrowly beaten by Justine Henin
• She made it to the 4^th round of the Australian Open 2007, before succumbing to eventual winner, Serena Williams
• She was a strong favourite at the French Open 2007 and was seeded no. 4 for the tournament. She again fell to Belgian, Justine Henin
• Rain delays affected her Wimbledon chances in 2007, and she only managed to reach the 4^th round even though she was the no. 3 seed for the event
• At the US Open, in 2007, she was denied a semifinal berth by Venus Williams

Jelena Jankovic has more than impressed - her meteoric rise in the rankings speaks volumes of her enormous potential. Like Justine Henin, she is incredibly ambitious. She will, however, have to be more discerning of the number of tournaments she competes in for 2009, as she has shown signs of fatigue at the end of the 2008 season.

Can this upwardly mobile young Serb win her first match against Justine Henin? For the latest tennis betting odds on the Australian Open women's singles players, go to William Hill.