Women's world number one Jelena Jankovic said on Monday that she is not surprised that the Serbians have become a major force in the tennis world, adding that they are setting up tradition for future generations.

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia gestures to the audience after the women's singles first round match with Yvonne Meusburger of Austria on the first day of the 2009 Australian Open in Melbourne Jan. 19, 2009. Jankovic won 6-1, 6-3. [Xinhua]

"Serbia didn't have tennis tradition before and didn't have players in the top of the game. Now we do. Now we have established ourselves as the players who are in elite group," said Jankovic, who beat Austrian Yvonne Meusburger 6-1, 6-3 in the opening round of the Australian Open.

"We are doing very well. I hope that we can continue to have many more years. I hope that we will have more success in the future."

Jankovic, 23, had a stellar 2008, earning the world No. 1 ranking and reaching the semifinals or better at three of the four Grand Slams.

Her female compatriot Ana Ivanovic won the French Open, reached the final of the Australian Open last season and had the No. 1 ranking for part of the year.

In men's game, Novak Djokovic, the world number three, has broke the Federer-Nadal duopoly at last year's Australian Open.

"I hope that in a way we can inspire and motivate younger generations to develop their game and go our way, go our paths. Just the fact thinking if Jelena or Ana or Novak have done it, they made it to the top, why can we not do it?

"If they have that kind of mentality, they see how we are doing. If we can motivate them, I think we have a bright future ahead in Serbian tennis."

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)