the Australian Open . While sounding somewhat fatalistic about her chances at the first Grand Slam of 2009 , it belies a determination that has propelled the upbeat 23-year-old Serbian from an early childhood in Belgrade to the top of women 's tennis and a jet-setting lifestyle . She moved from her native Serbia to Florida when she was just 12 years-old , training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy -- the same tennis camp that honed the skills of Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters . Being away from her family from such a young age made her grow up quickly , she says : `` I think I matured much faster than some of the girls my age and made me much stronger as well . '' Life as an international tennis professional also means life on the road , and Jankovic admits that sometimes it can be tough . `` For me the most difficult thing is being away from my family and friends , away from my country . Sometimes I just wish I was a normal girl , just staying at home and living a normal life , '' she told CNN . But her
Jelena Jankovic is making a reputation for herself as one of the hardest working women in tennis . Grin and bear it : Jelena Jankovic hopes 2009 will be the year she wins a Grand Slam tournament . Only a few others on the women 's tour competed in as many matches as her last year , and her consistency , blistering forehand and an improved all-round game saw her end 2008 as the world No. 1 . She prepared for the Australian Open -- under way in Melbourne -- in the punishing heat of Mexico and hopes that winning her first Grand Slam tournament under the harsh Melbourne sun will silence the critics who have questioned her right to the No. 1 spot without having won a Grand Slam title . `` I do n't understand why so many questions are being asked about that . I mean it 's not the end of the world . I just play my tennis and I enjoy every match . I go on the court with a smile and that 's all that matters to me . And if it will happen it will happen , '' she told CNN before