TENNIS in DEPTH.

There is renewed hope that Jelena Jankovic will be able to return to challenge the very best in the game after she ended her year title drought – with the exception of a low-key win in Marbella – with victory in Cincinnati.

Having saved four match points to see off Elena Dementieva in the semi-finals, Jankovic outlasted current world number one Dinara Safina in the final to finally mark her overdue return to form.

“This result will give me a lot of confidence going into Toronto and the US Open which is most important,” said Jankovic. “I finished last year as number one in the world but the last big tournament I had won was last year.

“I hadn’t been playing very well this first half of the season and I told myself now was the time for coming back. I’m moving very well and my game is coming back. I’m out there with a smile on my face. It’s nice to be back.”

Jankovic’s return to top form would be timely for a tour which still struggles with the concept that Safina is number one in the world despite being brushed aside so emphatically in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

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