NEW YORK: Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams meet in the US Open final with the added incentive of the WTA’s world number one ranking on the line along with the final Grand Slam title of 2008.

It is only the ninth time in history that a Grand Slam final will also determine the top spot in the WTA rankings. “I just want to be able to win Grand Slams and play and stay healthy,” Williams said. “The ranking will come,” she added.

The women’s final was scheduled for Saturday night but the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna are expected to hit the area which could force the match to be played Sunday. The world No. 1 ranking will change hands in Flushing Meadows because Serbian star Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the tournament in the second round.

The last Grand Slam final to feature two women battling for the world number one was the 2004 Australian Open where Justin Henin beat Kim Clijsters. It has been 13 years since the top spot has changed hands in a Grand Slam final. Germany’s Steffi Graf beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the 1995 Wimbledon final to regain the World No 1.

Both Jankovic and Williams have held the world number one spot before but Serena, who beat Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals, is the more decorated of the two having held it for 57 weeks beginning in July 2002.

Williams is enjoying a resurgence in her game while Jankovic made it to her first Grand Slam final in 21 tries. “I am putting in the effort both on and off the court,” said Williams who hasn’t been to the US Open final in six years. “Doubles helped too. I am playing a lot more and having more consistent results,” she explained.

Getting to her first final is a huge relief for Jankovic. Before she beat Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 in Friday’s semifinal she had been considered the best player to never make it to a Grand Slam final. “I really want to do this and I think it’s about time for me to make that step forward to break that barrier and go a long way,” said Jankovic who held the number one spot for just a week last month. “I want to win a Grand Slam and this is why I came here,” she added.

Williams, who is in her first US Open final in six years, said all the pressure is on Jankovic. “I have nothing to lose,” Williams said. “I am going against someone that is ranked higher than me. She has a lot of pressure to win her first Grand Slam and I am just enjoying every moment,” she explained.

This will be the seventh career meeting between Jankovic and Williams with each winning three times. 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).