ISTANBUL, Turkey—Former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic admits that she stopped loving the game when she almost fell out of the Top 30. Jankovic has since climbed back into the Top 10 and will compete in the WTA Championships for the fifth time this week.

“Once you’re used to being in the top and winning a lot of matches, and once that changes, you don’t enjoy it,” said the Serb, who became No. 1 in 2008. “I think no one likes to lose, of course, but that’s not in our nature. You have to try to make some changes. There is a reason why you were losing, why you were not doing so well. So you have to figure out a way to win again and try to do the right things. And over the years, I think I have learned a lot. I have made a lot of mistakes, as far as what has not worked, and I have learned what works for me.

“So now as a 28-year-old I can use that to my advantage. I have a lot more knowledge, a lot more experience. I think I can do and show a lot more in my tennis career. Love the competition. I love the satisfaction of winning. I love playing against the best tennis players in the world, and that’s what I enjoy.”

Jankovic added that she feels better physically than she did when she was younger, and thinks she can climb higher in the rankings.

“There were times in the past where I kind of felt like, ‘Oh, my God, everything is aching and hurting and—I feel like I’m getting older. I cannot be up there and all this.’ I had some doubts. But now at this stage I feel that, you know, I can achieve a lot, and I have a lot of belief in myself. I know I can bring a lot more to the table.”