Jelena Jankovic regained her world No 1 ranking on Monday having won Stuttgart's WTA event at the weekend and insists she just wants to get better and better.

With world No 1 Serena Williams losing in the second round in Stuttgart last week, Jankovic will now reclaim the top spot she lost in August after Williams won the US Open title.

And Jankovic's 6-4, 6-3 win over Russia's Nadia Petrova here in Sunday's final puts her back at the top following her second consecutive win after victory at the China Open in Beijing the week before.

"It's nice to be number one again, it's a good accomplishment," said the 23-year-old.

"I am working hard and all this hard work seems to be paying off, I have put in the hours to improve my service.

"I want to become a better player and I want to take my game up another level to really reach my full potential."

Jankovic did not have the easiest of runs to the final here as she beat Venus Williams over three sets in the semifinal and Russia's Vera Zvonareva in the quarterfinals when both sets went to a tie-break.

The Serb showed her class in the win over Williams having recovered from losing the first set on a tie-break to dominate the match.

At 1.77m tall, Jankovic revealed she is working hard in the gym to gain extra strength to compensate for the height advantage of her taller rivals on the WTA circuit - including Venus Williams (1.85m).

"There are taller girls out there," she said.

"I can't compete with their strength and height, so I have to find other ways of getting an advantage.

"I have been getting stronger in the gym, but tennis is like a game of chess.

"Sometimes you have to be smarter than your opponent to get an advantage to win the game."

But when a reporter compared her to former world No 1 Martina Hingis, who was also comparitively short, Jankovic was crystal clear in her reply.

"You think I am like Martina Hingis? I am not - I am my own person," she snapped.

And the determined Serb wants to now consolidate her place at the top of the world with more tournament wins.

"Mentally, I am sharp and feeling good," said Jankovic.

"The body is a bit tired, but I keep telling myself I am not tired and to keep going.

"I am signed up to play Moscow next week and I want to keep playing and to finish the year as number one."

(AFP via China Daily October 7, 2008)