Agence France-Presse




SYDNEY -- World number one Jelena Jankovic will headline a strong women's field in the Sydney International in January, organizers said Monday.

The Serb, who will end the 2008 season as the WTA Tour's top-ranked player, joins world No.2 Dinara Safina, No.3 Serena Williams and Beijing Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva in the January 11 to 17 tournament.

Tournament director Craig Watson said Jankovic, a finalist at the 2007 Sydney International, will be making her only appearance at an official event in the lead-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Jankovic is one of eight women to hold the year-end world number one ranking since the computer rankings were created in 1975, joining Justine Henin, Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, to play in Sydney.

The Sydney International will be held at the city's Olympic complex.