Wimbledon - As British tennis continues to struggle despite big investment Jelena Jankovic says that the recent success of Serbian tennis has nothing to do with money.

Millions of pounds are invested in British tennis every year from Wimbledon for scant returns, with only two British men and no woman ranked in the top 100. The contrast with Serbia could not be more stark.

"Not a penny is invested in us," said Jelena Jankovic who now ranks as world number three after a hugely successful year.

She is not alone. Compatriots Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic are also top-10 players.

What then motivates the trio to succeed in one of the world's most competitive and truly international of sports?

"We are very hungry, we want to do well, we want to be the best that we can be. We didn't have anything given to us so we had to work for our sport," Jankovic said in an interview.

"Nothing is falling from the sky. Whatever you get, what you earn -- you work for it. That's what I did and the other two as well," Jankovic said after sweeping effortlessly into the third round with a 6-1 6-1 win over Slovakian Jarmila Gajdosova.

Jankovic, following in the determined footsteps of Monica Seles, went to the Nick Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida at the age of 13.

Bollettieri's tennis hothouse toughened her up to face the lonely life of a globe-trotting player on the circuit.

"It is not so easy when you go to another place. You don't know the language, you don't know the people. You have to sacrifice some things in order to be the best," Jankovic said.

"I was very young. Being away from your parents can be quite difficult but it made me stronger, more mature, more experienced as a young girl," she added.

With her career prize money now totalling almost $2.7 million, that single-minded focus has paid rich dividends.

The 22-year-old Jankovic, who has risen from 12 to three in the world rankings this year, could prove a major threat at Wimbledon after winning four singles titles in 2007.

She reached her second grand slam semi-final in Paris, falling to world number one Justine Henin just as she did at the U.S. Open last year.

"I have had an amazing year. I broke the record last week winning 50 matches in less than half a season. It is something unbelievable for me and also winning four titles on three different surfaces," she said.

"But the most important thing is to enjoy my game. I have been having a lot of fun and that's the key to success for sure."

REUTERS