STUTTGART, Germany(AP) Jelena Jankovic believes her solid game is returning in time for the French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Jankovic finished 2008 as No. 1 but has dropped to No. 4 heading into her title defense at the Porsche Grand Prix.
``I've now played a few matches on clay, and I feel I am coming back to form,'' Jankovic said Tuesday.
Last week, Jankovic helped Serbia qualify for the Fed Cup World Group by winning on clay in Spain. Before that, she won a clay-court tournament in Marbella, Spain.
Jankovic put on more muscle mass in offseason training and considers it a mistake.
Everything felt different,'' Jankovic said.I took two steps backward. My body didn't accept it. I used to be one of the fastest players on the circuit, I had great movement and now I felt like one of the slowest players on court. I didn't have a feel for my shots.
``But now on clay I got a couple of wins, I am getting back. I am happy with the way things are going. No more experiments. My game is getting back together.''
Last year, the tournament in Stuttgart was played on an indoor hard surface in October. Now, it's the only indoor clay tournament on the WTA schedule.
The organizers installed the same red-clay surface that is used at the French Open, which starts next month.
When I step on the court, I don't think of being the defending champion,'' Jankovic said.It's not important what I did last year, but what I do this year and the points I get this year.''
The 24-year-old Jankovic said she was not concerned about regaining the No. 1 ranking, which is held by Dinara Safina of Russia.
``Once you achieve that goal, you get that monkey off your back. My goal is to find my game again and improve, to get better. That's what I've set out for myself, to go out and enjoy the tennis, with a smile on my face,'' she said.
Before Marbella, Jankovic's best result this year had been a semifinal place in Paris in February. At the Australian Open, Jankovic lost to Marion Bartoli in the fourth round.