Jankovic tops Azarenka at WTA Championships

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia hits a return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their WTA tennis championships match at Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, October 23, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

ISTANBUL - Jelena Jankovic topped second-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3 in her first match at the WTA Championships on Wednesday.

Jankovic, who was ranked No. 1 in 2008 and returned in the top 10 for the first time since 2011, outplayed the erratic Azeranka to snap a four-match losing streak against her.

Jankovic is ranked No. 8 and seeded seventh because third-ranked Maria Sharapova pulled out of the event with a shoulder injury. She proved to be the steadier player against Azarenka, the Australian Open champion.

In the first set, Jankovic needed 10 minutes to hold serve for a 5-3 lead. Azarenka saved two set points in the next game but sent a forehand wide on Jankovic's fourth in the 10th game.

Azarenka dropped her serve in the third game of the second set and held in the fifth despite serving three double-faults and facing four break points. But she could not trouble Jankovic on her serve and another forehand by Azarenka sailed long and gave Jankovic the match.

After losing the US Open final to Serena Williams, Azarenka lost her opening matches in both Tokyo and Beijing before beating Errani on Tuesday.