KEY POINTS:
Jelena Jankovic reckons she has toughened up her mental game since her last visit to Auckland.
The 21-year-old Florida-based Serbian will need to be resilient if she is to justify her top seeding for the ASB Classic after belatedly arriving at lunchtime yesterday, shortly after the tournament had kicked off.
World No 12 Jankovic missed a connecting flight from Vienna and admitted her body was pleading for sleep as she headed for the practice court yesterday afternoon.
The late arrival was due to spending some time with family and friends, along with fulfilling sponsor obligations. She is expecting a tough time in Auckland, although her first minutes upon arrival at the ASB Tennis Centre yesterday were spent watching the downfall of second seeded Russian Anastasia Myskina which won't hurt her prospects of a second WTA singles title.
On her last trip here in 2005 Jankovic reached the quarter-finals, but got ill, was miserable and fell apart against Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, whom she is seeded to meet in the semifinals later this week.
Jankovic's big learning experience came in the US Open last September.
In New York she bumped out three top 10 players - the Czech Republic's Nicole Vaidisova, and Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva - and then found herself 6-4, 4-2 up against the formidable Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne.
"It was so close. I was already thinking of the final because I was so excited. That was my mistake.
"I didn't concentrate."
The result? Henin-Hardenne ripped off 10 straight games to proceed to the final, which she lost to Russian Maria Sharapova.
But Jankovic, who clearly backs her ability, reckons she is better for that lesson. "It was a good experience, so next time I won't make those mistakes. I am young so hopefully I have more chances."
She isn't setting a specific target for 2007, but likes the idea of being inside the top 10 by December.
Her opponent today is German Julia Schruff. She knows little about her, but Jankovic gives the impression it could be anybody across the net.
"I try to focus on my game and the way I want to play. I am more confident, more experienced and mentally a lot tougher than before.
"When I go on court I know what I can do. If I play my game I think I have a good chance to beat any player."
