Eurosport - Wed, 11 Feb 09:14:00 2009
Roger Federer should concentrate on his own career rather than criticising others, Serb Jelena Jankovic said after being irked by the Swiss master's unflattering verdict on her number one world ranking last year.
Last month, former world number one Federer hit out at the way the WTA rankings were calculated, saying a player who has never won a Grand Slam should not be granted the number one spot.
Jankovic reached the top spot in the WTA rankings in August having never won a major tournament. She lost her first Grand Slam final to American Serena Williams at last year's US Open.
The Serb has since dropped down to third in the world following a shock fourth-round defeat to France's Marion Bartoli at the Australian Open.
"To be honest, I do not like to talk about players, I really prefer to focus on myself," Jankovic said at the Paris Open.
She said she could not understand why Federer felt the need to hit out at women's tennis while his great rival Rafa Nadal, who took over from the Swiss as world number one, was so "humble".
"Why should he even care? I don't like putting my nose in other's business," Jankovic said.
"I mean, one thing I like about Nadal is that he is such a great champion, he is so humble, always has kind words for everybody, he is a role model for everybody.
"Federer is a great champion, I don't want to get in a fight with him but why does he care, I really don't understand. Why does he need to do that?"
Federer also led the charge against Jankovic's compatriot Novak Djokovic when he quit because of the heat in his Australian Open quarter-final match against Andy Roddick.
"I'm almost in favour of saying, you know what, if you're not fit enough, just get out of here," the Swiss said.
Jankovic said Federer should not criticise fellow players.
"I don't think it's nice to attack other players," Jankovic added.
"If he retired, he probably had his reasons, he knows better. You cannot attack someone when you don't have proof, when you don't have a piece of evidence.
"There is no reason to offend him that way."
Jankovic will open her Paris Open campaign with a first-round match against Italian Francesca Schiavone.
Comment 143 - 162 of 162
Now, you all imagine, if someone else was making these comments about Federer. Or if someone else cried like a baby after loosing a final. Why the heck Nadal needed to console him? Why could not he enjoy his moment. You all Fed fans, would you be so sympathetic to lets say Djokovic, or Nadal, or Murrey, or Tsonga, if they cried after loosing to Federer? Just be realistic. He said, he retired only once. So, if his back hurt second time, he would not retire? What would he do? Lay on the court? Fed is a typical case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder: sense of entitlement and grandiosity, the world revolves around them, lack of empaty. So long Fed fans, I used to be his fan. Not any more. He is just a trash, who happens to know a thing or two in tennis. And I wonder, he may just have been lucky, that for 4-5 years there were not other players of Nadal's, Djokovic's, Tsonga, Nurrey quality. If these guyd were around, he would not even be close to Sampras's numbers.
i agree with fed
No need to be prude. People are always so quick to jump on anyone who voices an opinion. Let people be as they want and don't make it a character judgement. If Federer felt he needed to say something he should. Let's breath some fresh air into tennis. I'd be damned if JJ didn't go around trash talking. Also, JJ cries after every single point, so please don't demean Federer for doing so. As for his comment on Novak, Roger was saying the same thing that almost EVERY person watching that match was thinking. He just had the guts to say it.
Federer critisized against WTA tour NOT agains ANY PLAYER.
Jankovic should concentrate to win GS title instead of blaming Federer.
Please bear in mind that all that is concerned here is the ranking system. It refers to the points that each player gets in tours. The same system as with ATP. Some WTA players put JJ into No.1 because they did not perform well and unlucky in some tournaments while JJ has been very consistent though she's not winning in Grand Slams. We are talking about TENNIS here, a very modest sport. The culture within the sport provides discipline and respect towards players, officials, and system. I admire Roger but I thought he should be humble enough to deal with his character as a tennis player. Eventually, I think of him as a boxer, maybe he could trash talk to Mike Tyson if he really wants to. Or maybe to John McEnroe he he he... I don't know but I think Djokovic is better than Roger after all because of the age factor. But in any reason or another, no one has the right to criticize others' achievement or failure because it builds CHARACTER, Roger. I think Roger should apologize to JJ and Nole.
Jankovic ??? WELL SAID. I agree totally in what she is saying, Roger is a great Champion but he needs to focus on his own game at the moment if he is going to match the great Sampras record or Beat it. Leave the Ladies to play their game, and the WTA to run it how they see fit.
At least you are not a CRY BABY, Jelena he he he.. That is why Roger can;t break Sampras' record because Sampras is a descent champion he he he.
Ok 1st of all, i dont tink its fair of Roger to criticise other players!! He should just concerntrate on what he has to do to beat Nadal again rather than stick his nose in other peoples business!!! Jelena needs to accept criticisms, after Roger is speaking the truth! She hasn won a slam b4 so she doesn really deserve to be No1!!! Lol!
Ok, firstly, tennis is supposed to be a gentle sport full of respect. And we shouldn't be that fanatic... Both, Federer and Nadal are great players and we are lucky to watch tennis during this battle. But excuse me, you have to give Federer a break, ok? He had everything and now suddenly Nadal has come and taken top spot, Wimbledon etc from him. This isn't easy so he may overreact some times. Don't be such rough criticisers cause at some point Rafa may live similar situations in some months or years. I am a Federer fan, yes, and would like to see him balancing again, yes but I disagreed with some of his reactions. But we all have our ups and downs, right?? And last but not least, remember that the press sometimes goes over the top...
Who said women's tennis is a joke? The joke is how very typical some of your comments are. And how pathetic. Any of those girls could slap you silly.
Any1 but RODRER can talk about other player,s at least they DON,T CRY because they didn,t win, SHAME ON HIM for talking about other,s who should and who should not come on the court.He hate,s all Serb players for winning or not. At least THEY DON,T C R Y they have pride not to do that.realy Rodger get your act together you ware no.1 and you are the past now Nadal is the best and he is young he will be ther 4 a long time.GO NADAL GO
It's a free world and Roger is entitled to an opinion on any topic. Jelena should try not to make it a personal issue but should rather concentrate on the issue raised. Personally, I believe that one does not have to win a major to become no. 1 in either men's or women's tennis. It's the points that add up, not the majors. Any player that can gather enough points to become no. 1 has what it takes to win a major and should win one in due course.
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jankovic do not complain and stop whining show them your worth...beat your opponent to win GS...to rank yourself among tennis great...but not in the list of world number one wihtout GS title...that´s another story...most important is for you to listen to tennis great and federer is one of them..... he just touched your wound and now you shout of pain...isn´t it??? common get up or pack up court or home...choose one
SHUT UP JANKOPIG FEDERER IS THE GREATEST RAFA FANS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TENNIS. RAFA PICKS HIS @#$%, AND JANKO CAN'T WIN @#$%.
Fine. Federer probably should not have said it in that way, but also he should not be bothered. He needs to concentrate on his game rather than others. I can see why he is saying that because the greats reach world number 1, like himself, McEnroe, Borg, Sampras, Aggassi, these are all greats but the womens game is clearly dominated by the Williams' so it doesnt matter if Jelena was number 1, it was a short time, a very short time. If your not a 'great' you wont be there for long.
seriously lets call a spade a spade..women tennis is really boring to watch..in my opinion anyone can be number one in women's tennis any day any time..just by winning a few games.. its really not as competitive as the men's.
Women's tennis is a joke. You get all these nobody number ones, but as soon as Serena Williams tries she humiliates them all.
The first thing that Federer should learn is not to cry when he loses to someone obviously better. He was never modest and his arrogance is miles away from Jelena's spontaneity and genuine.
who says nadal wasnt in his best for years ago?he was just that he only liked clay better.If roger was in good shape last year he would have won the aussie open instead of that cheat Djokovic
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