Dubai: Jelena Jankovic is confident of Serbia's continued surge at the international arena owing to the recent successes achieved by its tennis stars.
Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic have taken the game to a new level and youngsters are aspiring to better their exploits.
"It has been an amazing experience to see such a huge number of young people pick up a tennis racquet. Football is no longer the No 1 sport in Serbia. Tennis has grown in leaps and bounds and everyone is looking up to us with admiration," she told the media.
"Young kids now have someone to motivate them along. We did not have this luxury when we were youngsters."
The Serbian former world No 1 also feels that the current economic status will only make youngsters in the country more hungry for success.
"Tennis is a wealthy sport and one needs to have the best equipment and facilities. But sometimes when you don't have everything it helps people, like in the case of many players coming from eastern European countries to stay hungry for more," Jankovic said.
The Serbian, 24, who lost to Marion Bartoli in the fourth round of the Australian Open, however, is still undecided about the future.
A variety of issues from her role in Serbian tennis to where she would live once her career is over are still pending.
"I have really not decided on these things. I have a place in Florida, where I spend a lot of time and I also go home in between tournaments held in Europe," said Jankovic.
"I will want to settle down and have a family, and I have not yet made up my mind on these matters."
One of the options before Jankovic is the possibility of being part of a tennis training centre funded by the Serbian government. Jankovic admitted that she could be a part of such a project, but was unsure whether she would want to do so.
The other option is a career in coaching youngsters in Serbia. "Maybe when I stop playing I will start coaching. That would be nice. But I would need to be dedicated and spend time with the youngsters. It would be a good option to invest in a training academy and help youngsters in Serbia."
Jankovic is among a handful of rising tennis stars that have made all the difference to the sport in Serbia.
