Roger Federer and Jelena Jankovic have no plans to share the mixed doubles court any time soon, but that hasn't stopped the former World No. 1 players from trading shots.
Federer questioned the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's ranking system in which Jankovic rose to the 2008 year-end No. 1 ranking without ever winning a major. Today, the third-seeded Serbian fired back and made it clear where she stands in the Rafa-Roger rivalry.
Asked about Federer's remarks, Jankovic suggested Federer should mind his own business.
"To be honest, I do not like to talk about players, I really prefer to focus on myself," Jankovic told Reuters writer Julien Pretot at the Paris Indoor event. "Why should (Federer) even care? I don't like putting my nose in other's business. I mean, one thing I like about Nadal is that he is such a great champion, he is so humble, always has kind words for everybody, he is a role model for everybody."
The US Open runner-up said she has great respect for Federer, but wonders why he felt compelled to comment on her rise to No. 1.
"Federer is a great champion, I don't want to get in a fight with him but why does he care, I really don't understand," Jankovic told Reuters. "Why does he need to do that?"
It's not the first time the pair have had a difference of opinion. Last July, former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Jankovic was upset in the fourth round and publicly questioned the All England Club for putting her on Court 18 — "almost in the parking lot," Jankovic said after the loss — rather than a show court.
Five-time champion Federer suggested Jankovic did not merit any special scheduling treatment.
"The thing is Pete (Sampras) played on Court Two after winning seven years. Who deserves what here?" Federer said when asked for his opinion on Jankovic's remarks. "It's the club who decides in the end. We're happy to be playing here. They can put us at Aorangi (practice courts) or Roehampton if they want to, but we have to accept the fact."
Jankovic is a long-time friend of fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic, who knocked Federer out of the 2008 Australian Open semifinals. After Djokovic retired from his quarterfinal match with Andy Roddick at the Melbourne major, Federer said "I'm almost in favor of saying, you know what, if you're not fit enough, just get out of here" in a comment some saw as a criticism of Djokovic.
Jankovic said Federer's comments are unwarranted.
"If he retired, he probably had his reasons, he knows better," Jankovic said of Djokovic. "You cannot attack someone when you don't have proof, when you don't have a piece of evidence. There is no reason to offend him that way."
Jankovic, who was upset by Marion Bartoli in the fourth round of last month's Melbourne major, will play Francesca Schiavone in her opening match in Paris this week. An Australian Open semifinalist in 2008, Jankovic said she was disappointed by her early exit last month.
"No, I didn't do well at all there. You know, I got sick in Hong Kong before the start of the Australian Open and it made things very difficult for me," Jankovic said. "Also, after two and a half months of break, it's never easy to get back in action. And I can already feel I'm doing better. I move faster than I did in Melbourne, my reaction on court is quicker too, and I'm able to see the ball earlier, which is very important."
The two-time French Open semifinalist said she's looking forward to putting her French to good use at Roland Garros this spring.
"Winning a Grand Slam is definitely my top goal. The French Open would be awesome, of course. I like clay a lot and I've already played two semifinals at Roland Garros, so why not?" Jankovic said. "Also, my greatest dream would be to win there and to deliver my vicotry speech to the French spectators in French. I speak French, I've been to a French diplomatic school, so that would be so much fun to do just that."
