WTA Tour - Jankovic blasts Federer

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.

TENNIS Jelena Jankovic plays a shot during her fourth round tie at the 2009 Australian Open - 0

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.

Reuters

Comment 83 - 102 of 162

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Alkssmiljov what you saying now about looks and that­ kinds of things its personality, no one is perfect and­ you are not perfect too. so shut up and dont begin wih­ looks... everyone have their own look or taste

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 10:12PM

  2. If Fed actually said that then I guess I am on her­ side. Strange that Fed would even care about it. And I­ don' t see anything bad in retiring from a match if­ you really can' t play. I mean it may happen to­ anyone that you go into the match all fine and then you­ get some problems during the match. I don't like­ people judging other people like that as if their­ better than everybody else.

    From therealchegevara, on Tue 10 Feb 10:11PM

  3. One point, Federer doesnt began to say something about,­ it was those stupid journalists began to ask him things

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 10:10PM

  4. when was last time she wonm Frencs? 6/7 yars ago? what­ happend since than? and if you think that look of­ Serena is normal than you need your head checkinh­ neullalove.

    From alkssmiljnov, on Tue 10 Feb 10:05PM

  5. so when was this that A Rod was beating him? At Us­ open? in his beloved NY? and Aus11123 what I said to­ provoke you and tell me to shut up? or you think that­ if it was other way around Nadal was going to cry? What­ was to cry about anyway he was not like choking in that­ final like Safina? he gave it all and should be prout­ of himself, try to win it next time.

    From alkssmiljnov, on Tue 10 Feb 10:03PM

  6. alkssmiljnov you really have a big problem.At least­ their drugs have been working on other surfaces,maybe­ your girl should find out the brand they use at least­ to get one b/4 she retires.For your info,serena has won­ the french open b/4 as well as all the other slams.Jj­ always gives an excuse for loosing,flu,pains,weakness­ bla bla bla.You should get your head checked indeed

    From ede o, on Tue 10 Feb 10:03PM

  7. If your opponent can’t stop you, heat exhaustion­ certainly will. Critics of Djokovic’s decision chill­ (pun intended). As for Federer, he's arrogant and­ a bitter-loser for sure. It was never addressed when­ he was at the top of his game. The true personality­ shows in challenging times, not when everything comes­ -relatively- easily. Fed, should mind his own business­ as the WTA does not need his biased view.

    From pvaldaz, on Tue 10 Feb 10:01PM

  8. 100% right nuellalove

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:57PM

  9. alkssmiljnov,djokovic tends to fall sick each time he­ is down,so the aussie heat might not have been his­ problem.I think that the fact that A.Rod was already­ beating him and he knew there was no way back forced­ him into retirement,come on he does that all the­ time.Federer's point is if you are sick dont show­ up at all

    From ede o, on Tue 10 Feb 9:54PM

  10. oo shut up alkssmiljnov its ok to cry in sports, not­ like some peep cries about a toy that is out of­ order...

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:53PM

  11. Crying after final needs to check head? maybe you need­ to check your head cuz you say things thats really­ nonsonse,

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:50PM

  12. Happy you got my point.But look at it very well,she­ shouldnt be complaining cos federer is absolutely­ correct.She should play less tourneys inorder to­ reserve her strenght for the slams.if not she might­ never get any

    From ede o, on Tue 10 Feb 9:48PM

  13. As for JJ being #1, well tennis is played for 52weeks­ not just 8. Is williams sisters are that good why is­ that they fail to win RG year after year and end up­ crying after loss? Well maybe drugs not work on some­ surfaces?

    From alkssmiljnov, on Tue 10 Feb 9:43PM

  14. Anuone that attacks players for retiring in australian­ heat should check his head. Anyway crying during­ cereony after loosing final is already sign for­ checking head. I am living down under and anyone that­ hasn't been over here during summer is not aware­ what iti ist like. Just look at he news and bushfires,­ more than 130 people dead. Regarding Djokovic I have to­ say he has a point because he was sheduled to play ll­ his first 3 round mathes during day. what hapens with­ defnding champion playing on first night tradition or­ is it 1 rule for some and other for others

    From alkssmiljnov, on Tue 10 Feb 9:40PM

  15. Federer is right, and it's his right whatsoever to­ voice his opinion. What has Jankovic ever won apart­ from second and third level tournaments? another freak­ who can't hit the ball but happens to scratch and­ claw her way through 40 tournaments every year, adding­ up whatever points she can get just to improve her­ ranking. tennistically speaking, she doesn't even­ belong to the top 20. so she better shuts it up and­ learn how to hit the ball when champ Federer talks!!!!!

    From P. E, on Tue 10 Feb 9:38PM

  16. oo sorry nuellalove, i misunderstand you apologize for­ that.

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:35PM

  17. A fan that is just being sincere.I was only replying­ miljan228 who for sure is a serb that that thinks jj is­ always right.Not that she cant win,but only trying to­ put him off

    From ede o, on Tue 10 Feb 9:27PM

  18. Nuellalove,
    who are you to promise players cant win a­ Slam or tournament anymore?

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:08PM

  19. Nuellalove,
    who are you to promise players cant win a­ Slam or tournament anymore?

    From aus11123, on Tue 10 Feb 9:08PM

  20. miljan228 in your dreams,federer will beat nadal to win­ two grandslams this year,i promise you that and jj wont­ win any slam unless the williams sisters and the­ russian girls get injured

    From ede o, on Tue 10 Feb 9:03PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account