Hong Kong  - Jelena Jankovic has cut her losses, withdrawing from a high-powered Hong Kong tuneup for the Australian Open on Saturday and flying straight to Melbourne suffering with the flu.

The Serb will now be well short on match practise for the Grand Slam which starts a week from Monday.

Jankovic said she had been ill for several days and had managed to play only one doubles match at Victoria Park in the World Team Challenge.

London - The world number one pair of Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic lifted top honours for the 2008 season as the each received world champion honours from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Nadal, winner of a fourth straight Roland Garros title as well as Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal, swept the field on the men's side. The ITF makes the selections based upon ATP and WTA results combined with Grand Slams, Olympics, Davis Cup and Fed Cup play.

Sydney  - World number one Jelena Jankovic was Wednesday re-thinking her January schedule and might not be able to headline at the Medibank International.

The week before, the Serb is due to star at a special event in Hong Kong along with Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams, where her appearance is assured.

Jankovic's life changed as she ended the 2008 season on the top ranking spot and demands on her time are obviously growing. Sydney officials are still keen to have her and would happily offer a late entry to the tournament starting January 11.

Hamburg - Jelena Jankovic topped the year-ending women's tennis rankings issued on Monday by the WTA, with Venus Williams climbing into sixth place courtesy of her title at the 2008 finale in Doha.

Jankovic, who was stopped in the Doha semis by Williams, tops the final list with 4,710 points. She was assured of the 2008 top spot ahead of the final week of action.

US Open champion Serena Williams is second with 3,866 points, swapping positions with Dinara Safina, who has 3,817 points.

Venus Williams climbed from eighth to sixth place after her three-set win Sunday over Vera Zvonareva. The Russian finalist also rose two places, from nine to seven.

Hamburg - High-flying Serb Jelena Jankovic tops the women's tennis rankings issued on Monday by the WTA and is already assured of staying there until next year.

Jankovic has 4,555 points and, according to a WTA statement on Saturday, has clinched the prestigious year-ending number one position for the first time in her career as well.

Russian Dinara Safina ranks second with 3,752 points and Serena Williams of the United States is third on 3,716 points in an unchanged top 10.

It was reason to rejoice for Serbia as its player made a global impact by winning Porsche Grand Prix trophy on Sunday. Jelena Jankovic, the 23-year-old adds another feather to her cap as she reigns the top slot now.

Jankovic defeated Russia’s Nadia Petrova during the finals in Stuttgart.