Oz Open scare for Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic8217;s injury has put her in a fitness scare ahead of this month8217;s Australian Open. The Serbian picked up the thigh injury at the Hopman Cup on Wednesday. 8220;I stretched to hit a backhand I think and went back to push off to the next side and that8217;s where I felt really sharp pain,8221; Jankovic said. 8220;It was like somebody put a knife in my glute. 8220;It8217;s a strain. It was really, really painful. I thought I had torn a muscle or something. I have to be ready for Melbourne, which is most important and I don8217;t want any kind of risk.8221;

The Australian Open begins on January 14 and Jankovic admitted that when she suffered the injury she had feared the worst.

Jankovic, who had acupuncture treatment after the mixed doubles, said her lack of preparation after a nose operation at the end of last year meant she had arrived in Perth below full fitness. 8220;I am not really ready,8221; she said. 8220;I only had two weeks before I came here so obviously my body is not in the best shape and the best form. 8220;I think I recover quite fast and that8217;s something that8217;s good for me. I will try to do my best to be in good shape. I am really hungry to play matches. I want to be in the best form for the Australian Open.8221;