Jelena Janković wins Charleston

Jelena Janković wins Charleston

"The ball was going all over the place," said Janković, who defeated five-times grand slam champion Venus Williams in the semi-finals. "We did the best we could."

She added: "I was just trying to watch the ball carefully and move my feet so that I'm kind of set on the ball. But still, even though you move, it's going all over the place, so you cannot really tell."

As Janković wrapped up the post-match press conference, the temporary structure serving as media headquarters was being pounded by winds that shook the building.

"Oh, my God," she said. "I never had a press conference like this either. Is it safe to be here?"

Safina had severe problems controlling her big strokes and powerful serve. She said: "I was struggling with the weather, but it was the same for her so I think she was able to handle it better than me."

In Monday's world rankings, Janković will advance two positions to a career-high seventh.

Meanwhile, Serbian prime minister Vojislav Koštunica congratulated Janković on the biggest win of her career.

“Dear Jelena, I wish to congratulate you on the victory in the Charleston tournament. You have achieved a great success and I am convinced that you will make us happy many times in the future. I wish you good luck in further competitions,” Koštunica said in a message, reported at the government website.