The house that Jelena built

 

Originally published on: 26/07/12 00:00

The former world No.1 visited the house she is having built there while she was competing in last week’s Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad.

The house is so big that the 27-year-old Serb is not even sure of the number of bedrooms. “I think eight, but I'm not sure,” she said. “It's too big for my own good.”

Jankovic currently lists Dubai as her main residence, but that may change at the end of this year when she moves into the new house, where she is hoping to train. “I have a tennis court on one side of the house, and on the other side of the house is a pool,” she said. “While I'm playing I'm going to be all over the place. I'm travelling all the time. But when I stop, when I finish my career, I’m probably going to spend a lot of time there.”

Rancho Santa Fe is also known for golf. “I’ve got to learn to play,” Jankovic said. “I was playing the last couple of days.  I was driving around with the golf cart, and people are like: ‘Aren't you playing the wrong sport? You're supposed to be on the tennis court.’ I'm trying to play and hopefully when I finish my tennis career I can just enjoy it for recreation.”

Jankovic got some unusual looks from security guards on her most recent visit. “I was walking around there, and first of all, when I was entering, I was saying: ‘I'm the owner.’  They were looking at me, like: ‘You're the owner?  You're only like 27 years old.’ They were looking at me, like: ‘Get out of here. You don't belong here’.

“I had on a cap and some sunglasses. No wonder. I don't think even my Mum could recognise me dressed up like that. But it was funny. Then I got to my house and it was nice to see the improvement. I'm always on the road, so my Dad is spending a lot time helping out with the work. It looks great so far. I am quite excited.”

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