Jankovic beats pain barrier at Hopman Cup

Jelena Jankovic battled through a leg injury at the Hopman Cup to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over France, putting them on course for a place in the final.
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France took an early lead when Jankovic withdrew after only a game and a half of her match with Tatiana Golovin because of an injury to her right leg.
 
Novak Djokovic then pulled top seeds Serbia level with a confident 6-3 6-3 victory over Arnaud Clement.
 
After a scan revealed that Jankovic had not torn a muscle, she decided to risk it by playing the deciding mixed doubles, which she and Djokovic won 5-7 6-4 10-4 to seal victory in the Group A clash.
 
The match between world number three Jankovic and 13th-ranked Golovin had been one of the most eagerly anticipated of the event.
 
But it was over almost before it began when the Serbian suddenly started clutching the top of her right hamstring. Jankovic received treatment from the physiotherapist after the first game and though she tried to play on, she was forced to withdraw midway through the second.
 
Djokovic, 20, had struggled to victory against Lu Yen-hsun in Serbia's win over Taiwan.
 
But the world number three, who will be one of the favourites for the title at the Australian Open later this month, looked more his usual self on Wednesday when he cruised to victory over Clement.
 
"I think I played better today than I did three days ago," Djokovic said.
 
"Obviously it was my first match of the season against Lu, who played a really good match, so I was struggling.
 
"Today I was performing really well. I was keeping my focus throughout the match, trying to be in control, which I did.
 
Hopefully it's going to be even better in the next match.
 
"It was a pretty good match today but I think what decided our match today was my serve. I think it was like never before."
 
Though Jankovic's movement was clearly restricted, the Serbian pair broke to lead 3-2 and had a point for 4-2, but France hit back and snatched the set with another break in the 12th game.
 
Djokovic and Jankovic then stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set and held on to level the match, before romping through the match tiebreak 10-4.
 
Victory for Serbia in their final match against Argentina will ensure them top spot in Group A and send them through the final of the eight-nation mixed team event.