The two former World Number ones of WTA, Serena Williams, and Jelena Jankovic have one of the renowned rivalries in the women’s game. The duo has met 14 times on the professional courts, and the American has won 10 of their meetings. And the Serbian professional Jankovic is one of the nine players to bagel Serena on the WTA courts (in Dubai 2005). Besides their interesting matchups, the two players have exchanged blows on several occasions in their careers.

Serena Williams vs Jelena Jankovic, Charleston 2013

One of their exchanges came in Charleston, USA in the year 2013. The pair were playing the Family Circle Cup and Williams dropped the opening set. After Serena’s shaky start, there was a verbal spat between the two.

At 40-15 in the first game of the second set, Jankovic was all set to serve, and Williams was ready to return in the crouched position. But, when Jankovic was halfway through with her service swing, Serena said, “You gotta wait.” The chair umpire Kader Nouni also agreed.

Jankovic: “How long do I have to wait?”

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Serena: “Until I’m ready. I don’t play slow.”

Jankovic: “But you go like this (crouching in return position)

Serena: “Honestly, you got a problem? I’m not the one.”

After losing the first set, Serena Williams went to clinch 12 games out of the last 14 games and pulled off a 3-6 6-0 6-2 and defended her title in Charleston

“I wasn’t ready,” Williams said in reference to the dispute on the court post her win. “I am the most respectful player, other than Venus and I am so respectful to my colleagues.”

Later Jankovic stated the incident had broken her momentum in the game. “I gave her wins. I let her back in the match. That was my mistake. I got tired,” the Serbian said.

“It was my sixth match here and playing Serena is not easy – you have to run a lot of balls down and hit as hard as you can and give your maximum. She’s so strong. She’s the number one player in the world for a reason. She was the better one at the end.”

Italian Open 2010

In the semifinal match between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic, the Serb defeated the American ace 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Williams apologized for holding up her serve at one instant during their handshake on the net. 

Serena said, “I would never do that.”

Also, according to the professional lip readers, she also said, “I’m not Justine.” Jankovic’s head nod probably confirmed, the spike was at tennis player Justine Henin.

Dubai Tennis Championships 2014

In Dubai, in the last game of the match, Jankovic was serving at deuce but, Williams was held up with a cough. The Serb sarcastically yelled at Serena and said: “You can take more time, it’s yours.”

“Do you want to do this again, Jelena?” Williams yelled back and referred to their previously exchanged blows. Later, Jankovic complained to the umpire. But, Williams once again dismantled Jankovic with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Also, the pair conversed at the net after the handshake.