Tennis: Ana Ivanovic Out, Jelena Jankovic Through
January 23rd 2009 23:38
Serbian Ana Ivanovic is out of the Australian Open after a three-set thriller, while compatriot and No 1 seed, Jelena Jankovic, advanced to the fourth round.
Ivanovic's 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 loss to Russian teenager Alisa Kleybanova continues a form slump that has dogged the No 5 seed since her breakthrough grand slam win at last year's French Open.
It set up a fourth round clash between 19-year-old Kleybanova and Australia's Jelena Dokic, who downed Danish No 11 seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Ivanovic's struggle was a stark contrast with the fortunes of No.3 seed Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva, seeded No 7, who both cruised into the last 16.
A losing Australian Open finalist in 2008, she follows Venus Williams out of the season-opening major, leaving the women's draw wide open.
Ivanovic threw everything she had at Kleybanova after going down a set, clawing her way back into the match but ultimately losing after two hours 33 minutes.
"I gave 100 percent but today she was better and played some unbelievable shots,'' she said.
"It's disappointing. I'm very, very sad because I felt physically fit and felt I could do well here ... there's plenty more tournaments in front of me.
"Sometimes losses make you more motivated to work harder.''
World No.1 Jankovic also faced a tough opponent in Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama but scrapped her way to a 6-4 6-4 win even if she could not dominate a player who at 33 is 10 years her senior.
However, Jankovic said her form was improving as the tournament progressed, rating her performance against Sugiyama much better than those she produced in the opening two rounds.
"I'm just happy to get through this kind of match,'' she said.
Safina had no trouble displaying the intimidating aggression absent from Jankovic's game so far this tournament, muscling aside Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-2.
Cutting down on the errors that marred her earlier matches, the super-fit 22-year-old overcame Kanepi with raw power developed during a breakthrough year when she rose to world No.3.
"Finally I played my game, compared to my first two matches, I reached my level,'' she said.
"From now on I have to play like this or even better every day because it will be tougher and tougher coming up.''
Zvonareva also went through easily, dispatching Italy's Sara Errani 6-4 6-1 to equal her previous best performance in Melbourne and firm as a dangerous prospect for her more highly fancied rivals.
The crowd favourite was undoubtedly Dokic, who rode a wave of emotion to down Wozniacki 3-6 6-1 6-2 and further redeem herself in the eyes of an adoring Australian public.
The Serb-born 25-year-old is on the comeback trail in Australian colours after renoucing her citizenship seven years ago at the urging of her now estranged father Damir.
"I'm sorry for being a pain,'' said the tournament wildcard, who battled severe depression for years after leaving Australia.
"I know I've been difficult at times and I want to apologise for that.''
Agence France-Presse
Ivanovic's 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 loss to Russian teenager Alisa Kleybanova continues a form slump that has dogged the No 5 seed since her breakthrough grand slam win at last year's French Open.
It set up a fourth round clash between 19-year-old Kleybanova and Australia's Jelena Dokic, who downed Danish No 11 seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Ivanovic's struggle was a stark contrast with the fortunes of No.3 seed Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva, seeded No 7, who both cruised into the last 16.
A losing Australian Open finalist in 2008, she follows Venus Williams out of the season-opening major, leaving the women's draw wide open.
Jelena Jankovic
Ivanovic threw everything she had at Kleybanova after going down a set, clawing her way back into the match but ultimately losing after two hours 33 minutes.
"I gave 100 percent but today she was better and played some unbelievable shots,'' she said.
"It's disappointing. I'm very, very sad because I felt physically fit and felt I could do well here ... there's plenty more tournaments in front of me.
"Sometimes losses make you more motivated to work harder.''
World No.1 Jankovic also faced a tough opponent in Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama but scrapped her way to a 6-4 6-4 win even if she could not dominate a player who at 33 is 10 years her senior.
However, Jankovic said her form was improving as the tournament progressed, rating her performance against Sugiyama much better than those she produced in the opening two rounds.
"I'm just happy to get through this kind of match,'' she said.
Safina had no trouble displaying the intimidating aggression absent from Jankovic's game so far this tournament, muscling aside Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-2.
Cutting down on the errors that marred her earlier matches, the super-fit 22-year-old overcame Kanepi with raw power developed during a breakthrough year when she rose to world No.3.
"Finally I played my game, compared to my first two matches, I reached my level,'' she said.
"From now on I have to play like this or even better every day because it will be tougher and tougher coming up.''
Zvonareva also went through easily, dispatching Italy's Sara Errani 6-4 6-1 to equal her previous best performance in Melbourne and firm as a dangerous prospect for her more highly fancied rivals.
The crowd favourite was undoubtedly Dokic, who rode a wave of emotion to down Wozniacki 3-6 6-1 6-2 and further redeem herself in the eyes of an adoring Australian public.
The Serb-born 25-year-old is on the comeback trail in Australian colours after renoucing her citizenship seven years ago at the urging of her now estranged father Damir.
"I'm sorry for being a pain,'' said the tournament wildcard, who battled severe depression for years after leaving Australia.
"I know I've been difficult at times and I want to apologise for that.''
Agence France-Presse
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