04/11/2008 - 09/11/2008.
Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha, QAT - www.sonyericsson-championships.com

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Williams dominated in the first set, but made more errors in the second as Jankovic dictated play with her aggression. She broke Williams to lead 4-2, and closed out the set with relative ease. But in the third Jelena made more errors and Venus had some luck in the important points.

“The season is over for me. That was my last match of the year. Of course it’s disappointing to lose. But, overall, when I look at it and finishing as the No. 1 player in the world, I can only be proud of myself, and I can look at it in a positive way.”

“I can go to vacation with a smile on my face. It will be really weird not to have my rackets with me. Now I can just put my bikinis, my beach stuff and all that and have fun.”

Williams will face tournament surprise Vera Zvonareva, who defeated fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-3 in the other semifinal at the WTA Tour’s season-ending event.

Jankovic needed treatment on a back injury at the start of the second set. She was clearly suffering from a lower back problem but showed all the tenacity that has become her trademark to out-battle the sixth-seeded Russian in the second set.

Jankovic said afterwards that the trainer had told her “something moved out of position” in her back and that more treatment would be required before Friday’s clash with Zvonareva, a match which will decide the group winner.

“It started being stiff at the end of the first set and at the beginning of the second I started feeling pain.”

“I couldn’t push off on my serve and some groundstrokes - I was struggling, it was uncomfortable.”

“It was a pretty strong performance,” Jankovic told after beating her fellow Serb for only the second time in eight meetings. “It was very windy and not easy to play but I was strong today and very focused.

“Since the last time we played, at the French Open, I have improved so much. My game has gone to another level.”

In the same group eighth seed Vera Zvonareva defeated fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-3. Venus Williams defeated second-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 7-5 6-3 in the Maroon Group.

ROUND ROBIN GROUP ALLOCATIONS

White Group:
1. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
4. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
6. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
8. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

Maroon Group:
2. Dinara Safina (RUS)
3. Serena Williams (USA)
5. Elena Dementieva (RUS)
7. Venus Williams (USA)

Jankovic’s 4,555 points give her a commanding lead over Russian Dinara Safina (3,782) and American Serena Williams (3,716). She will retain the top spot regardless of the outcome of the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

“It has been a truly amazing year for me,” Jankovic said. “Winning four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles, over 60 matches and to make it to two semifinals and a final in the Grand Slams this year is a dream come true. I worked really hard this year and to finish No.1 is where I want to be and where I hope to stay.”

Jankovic secured the year-end ranking by winning 12 straight matches and 3 consecutive titles: the China Open in Beijing, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. She won the first of her four 2008 titles at Rome in May.

Jankovic first claimed the No.1 ranking on August 11, 2008, holding it for 1 week. She regained the top spot on Oct. 6 following her win in Stuttgart and has held it ever since.

World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic had her 12-match winning streak ended when she was defeated 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 by unseeded Italian Flavia Pennetta (17th in the world) in the second round of the Zurich Open on Thursday. Pennetta had lost her previous five contests against Jankovic.

“I had no gas left in the tank, I am not a robot and after winning three titles in different time zones and climates I felt mentally and physically tired”.

“I will have two weeks off now to rest and train for the WTA Championships and hopefully end the year in the best possible way.”