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Jankovic Solidifies Return To No. 1 With Stuttgart Crown

Sunday, October 5, 2008

(Sports Network) - Serbia's Jelena Jankovic solidified her return to the top of the women's rankings by capturing her second title in as many weeks with a straight-set victory over Russia's Nadia Petrova in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The second-seeded Jankovic earned a 6-4, 6-3 triumph on Sunday for her third title of 2008 and the eighth of her career. She was fresh off a victory in Beijing and has claimed tournament crowns in back-to-back weeks for the first time in her career.

Already assured of moving into the top spot in the rankings next week, Jankovic also improved to 3-2 in finals this year. She also won in Rome, while both losses came against Serena Williams in Miami and at the U.S. Open.

Jankovic was coming off three-set matches in the quarterfinals against Vera Zvonareva and in the semifinals against Venus Williams, but did not have nearly as much trouble on Sunday.

"I'm very proud of winning my second tournament in a row," said Jankovic, who was No. 1 for a week in August. "It wasn't easy coming here from China and I had very tough matches against Zvonareva and Venus, but I'm thrilled to win the Porsche today."

The only break of the first set went to Jankovic, who saved two break-point chances against her own serve. Petrova, who had not lost a set before Sunday, managed to break serve once in the second set, but had her serve broken three times in response.

"There are some days you wake up and you know it's not going to be your day," said Petrova. "No matter what I tried today it didn't work, and my legs felt really heavy."

Petrova, the 2006 Stuttgart champ, fell to 8-10 lifetime in finals, including 1-2 this year. She won in Cincinnati before the U.S. Open and also lost in the title match at Eastbourne prior to Wimbledon.

The victory was worth $100,000 for Jankovic, who improved to 6-2 lifetime against Petrova. The two also met last year in this event. Jankovic won the quarterfinal matchup when Petrova, who had taken the opening set in a tiebreaker, retired in the second set with a left hip strain.

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