Jankovic advances into Dubai semis

DUBAI - Agence France-Presse

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic manages to upset US Open champion Samantha Stosur at the quarterfinals of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic returned to somewhere nearer her best form yesterday to upset Samantha Stosur and reach the semifinals of the Dubai Open in her adopted home city.

It is the eighth-seeded Serb’s first semi-final of the year and also her best win for 12 months as she beat the fourth-seeded US Open champion from Australia 6-4, 6-2.

Jankovic achieved it despite a slowly healing muscle tear in her left thigh.

She adopted a more assertive style than she once had, controlling more of the rallies, and reducing the amount of court she covered.

Stosur, by contrast, appeared subdued and sounded as if she might be suffering from a cold. Having a base locally may have aided the livelier Jankovic significantly.

“I tried to make as many returns as possible, because her serve is one of the best, if not the best in the game, and it is not a typical serve,” Jankovic said. “I was trying to read it and lean to one side a little earlier. It’s a long time since I have been in the final here, and that’s what I’m looking to try to do.”

It is seven years since she faced Lindsay Davenport in the final, and if she wins today’s semi against Agnieszka Radwanska, it will give Jankovic a chance of going one better than she did against the
former Wimbledon and US Open champion in 2005.