NEW YORK: Now that she has reached her first career Grand Slam final, Jelena Jankovic says her main goal is to win a US Open title but a number-one ranking would tickle her funny bone as well.

“I was laughing when I was 1,000th in the world but maybe I (laugh) a little more now that I’m No. 1 or 2,” said Jankovic, who squares off against eight-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in the US Open women’s final. There will be plenty at stake in the Arthur Ashe Stadium showdown, which is scheduled for Saturday but could be moved to Sunday if an expected rain and wind storm blows into the New York area.

Not only will Jankovic and Williams be gunning for the 1.5 million dollars in first place prize money but the winner will also surpass Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic as world number one. “She’s the strongest player on the tour,” Jankovic said of Williams. “Together with her sister. Nobody has the power they have. They are great athletes. I am a little athlete. So if you want to win you really have to be on the top level and you have to go for every shot. It will be difficult but it is do able,” she explained.

This will be the seventh career meeting between Jankovic and Williams with each winning three times. Williams won their last meeting earlier this year in Miami 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. They have never met in a final before but Jankovic has won both times they squared off in a semifinal in Los Angeles (2006) and Dubai (2005).