Jankovic heads to the French Open in confident mood

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic retained her Italian Open title with a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win over surprise finalist Alize Cornet in Rome.

The 23-year-old Serb had treatment for a shoulder problem in the second set but still produced a love service game to finish the match.

Cornet, from France, was vulnerable on serve throughout the 83-minute match.

And she was briefly reduced to tears of frustration before fourth seed Jankovic wrapped up her sixth WTA tour success.

"I'm happy to win the title again. I'm just so happy," Jankovic said afterwards.

"I didn't know how she was going to play. I was the favourite. I had the pressure on me."

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Jankovic's title win

Looking forward to the French Open, Jankovic said Justine Henin's surprise retirement had improved her chances at Roland Garros.

"She was the only one I couldn't beat on clay - and on hardcourts as well - so I have a better chance. I think I have a big opportunity to do very well."

Jankovic added: "My dream is to be number one in the world. At the moment I'm on the right track."

Cornet, 18, was disappointed at her failure to reproduce the form which saw off third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze in earlier rounds.

She had 12 break points during the match, but only managed to convert three, while her own serve was picked apart by Jankovic, whose greater consistency with her groundstrokes proved decisive.

"I couldn't do what I wanted to do on the court. Maybe later I will be happy of my tournament but right now I'm just sad," Cornet said.