Illness worry for Jankovic

World number one Jelena Jankovic is “hoping for the best” after pulling out of her only warm-up event before the Australian Open with flu.

The 23-year-old Serbian was brushed aside in straight sets by Wimbledon champion and in-form world number six Venus Williams in her season opener at the JB Group Classic in Hong Kong on Thursday before a visibly sluggish Jankovic laboured through a doubles match yesterday.

But with the first grand slam of the year beginning in Melbourne in nine days, Jankovic, who has already spoken of her difficulty to deal with her improved physique following a rigorous off-season training camp in Mexico, pulled out ahead of today’s final tune-up against China’s Zheng Jie.

Jankovic said: “I have been feeling weak and sick for the last couple of days. I have been trying my best to get on the court but I feel slow, I have no reactions and it has been a struggle for me.

“It was a great opportunity for me to play some matches and get in form before the Australian Open but sometimes you cannot control it.

“It is an individual thing, some people might recover in a couple of days while some may take longer. I just have to stay positive.

“There is still just over a week until the Open so I hope I can get better soon and work on my game and get ready for the upcoming grand slam. My main goal now is to get back on court as soon as possible and get ready for the Australian.

“I haven’t been feeling well, it’s a long way coming to Hong Kong and my immune system is down as I have been training very hard and I think I have reached my limit so it is easy to get sick being surrounded by a lot of people and with the time zone and change of climate it takes its toll on the body but I will try and stay optimistic and hope for the best.”

Last year Jankovic posted a world-leading 65 match wins on tour, picking up four titles and reaching her maiden grand slam final at the US Open.

She began 2008 with a quarter-final appearance in Sydney before losing to eventual Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals in Melbourne.