Jankovic defies 90 kph gusts to land title

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, Apr 16 (Reuters) Jelena Jankovic of Serbia captured her third career title by defeating Dinara Safina 6-2 6-2 in the final of the 1.3 million dollar Family Circle Cup.

Despite severe windy conditions with gusts of up to 56 mph (90 kph), the second-seeded Jankovic got 84 percent of her first serves in and double-faulted only twice.

''The ball was going all over the place,'' said Jankovic, who defeated five-times grand slam champion Venus Williams in the semi-finals. ''We did the best we could.'' She added: ''I was just trying to watch the ball carefully and move my feet so that I'm kind of set on the ball. But still, even though you move, it's going all over the place, so you cannot really tell.'' As Jankovic wrapped up the post-match press conference yesterday, the temporary structure serving as media headquarters was being pounded by winds that shook the building.

''Oh, my God,'' she said. ''I never had a press conference like this either. Is it safe to be here?'' Safina had severe problems controlling her big strokes and powerful serve. She said: ''I was struggling with the weather, but it was the same for her so I think she was able to handle it better than me.'' In today's world rankings, Jankovic will advance two positions to a career-high seventh. Safina moves from 12 to 10.

REUTERS PDS PM0720