US Open - Jankovic reaches first Slam final

Eurosport - Sat, 06 Sep 21:00:00 2008

Serbian Jelena Jankovic battled into the final of the US Open with a 6-4 6-4 victory over fifth seed Elena Dementieva in a blustery encounter.

TENNIS 2008 US Open Jelena Jankovic - 0

The second seed came from behind in both sets to reach her first Grand Slam final, where she will play American fourth seed Serena Williams.

"As you can see I have tears in my eyes, I am little bit emotional to be in the final," Jankovic said.

"I played something like five semi-finals so to be in the final of a Grand Slam for the first time, I'm thrilled."

Olympic champion Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up, broke in the first game and holding the advantage to 4-2 only for Jankovic to win four straight games to take the set.

The Russian again surged ahead in the second, but after a series of breaks, Jankovic snatched the vital break in the 10th game to seal her place in the final.

Dementieva had reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in July and was in the ascendancy early on.

Jankovic, though, was scrapping for every ball and some brilliant retrieving helped her to break back for 4-4.

The wind was causing both players all sorts of problems and Jankovic took advantage of a host of errors from Dementieva to hold and then break again to take the set.

Dementieva showed her fighting spirit by breaking serve to lead 2-1 in the second.

Jankovic hit back immediately and the players then traded another break as the set reached 4-4.

The Serbian held serve in the ninth game to force Dementieva to serve to stay in the match but the Russian could not manage it and her 42nd unforced error of the match sealed Jankovic's place in the final for the first time.

"I was really fighting. It was very, very windy, and Elena is a great champion and a great player, she was running me everywhere so I was just trying to run them down and get the balls back.

"I'm just really happy, happy to be in the final."

Reuters

Comment 37 - 56 of 56

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  1. we noticed ttoo ,, vic can't type or spell or think

    From paddington2bear, on Sun 7 Sep 8:59PM

  2. tttobyju am not petty like u! I have a very good life believe me and so content with my best players! You stick to whoever u support, and I will party with my best players whom, I must note, have achieved more than ur entire family can only dream of! There's a reason they have come up on top despite the critics. They are so successful and continue to be, they will never crack. Ask ur mother why she has a double-chin?

    From Vic M, on Sun 7 Sep 6:55PM

  3. Elena Dementieva has never won a single slam! Winning the olympic gold and get 100,000 dollars doesn't compare to winning a slam! If u think that Dementieva is better with her weakest serve ever, u must be smoking something! Tier three pay more money than the olympics. At lest Serena has two Olympic Gold medals anyway and Venus has three! It's almost laughable to think that Elena...oh my god, hahha that serve! Come off it now, Serena is da best!

    From Vic M, on Sun 7 Sep 4:27PM

  4. Go Jelena!

    From kasia, on Sun 7 Sep 4:19PM

  5. No one can live with Serena on court when she's playing her best! I suspect Serena will go out there and destroy Jelena like she demolished Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open last year! There's no beter player in history of women tennis than Serena. Serena can only beat herself!

    From Vic M, on Sun 7 Sep 3:46PM

  6. hi 46 dear --- delightful rFENCHl Miss Bartoli gave us a kiiss after her match ___ -- we love her

    From Sfa D, on Sun 7 Sep 12:59PM

  7. yes --good luck but we too would have preferred the smiling face of Ana IVANOVIC

    From Sfa D, on Sat 6 Sep 7:46PM

  8. we hope to see the name jankovic ----- on the winners million $$$$$ cheque at the end
    it should have been smiling cheerful -- ANNA IVANOVIC --- but this can be our second choice

    From ekaterinabell, on Sat 6 Sep 6:44PM

  9. Yes Jelena you can win us open lets GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    win the serena win win win win win

    From andreas.tazoulism1, on Sat 6 Sep 4:59PM

  10. yes 46 -- ==SICK every time we hear the name ------ quite right

    From startoratora, on Sat 6 Sep 4:23PM

  11. I just wish Jelena wasn't so defensive, waiting for the other player to make a mistake, hardly thrilling especially when Jelena has the skills to be a better all round player. So i expect another defensive display against Serena, serena getting frustrated (or just bored) make the mistakes and Jelena wins by default. Still at least we haven't had a medical time out every set in every match which we usually have to put up with the best looking drama queen in women's tennis, the ugliest drama queen being Bartoli of course. Anyway lets hope for a great match as women's tennis really needs it.

    From Atomheartbrother, on Sat 6 Sep 2:52PM

  12. Oh whatta great and beautiful a player she is "Jankovic". but "SERENA" U gotta be sick, hate it or love it, she is the QUEEN OF TENNIS.

    From Akay F, on Sat 6 Sep 2:42PM

  13. bravo JJ. before the match, I favoured Dementieva. But then, i have to admit, JJ was far strongest between them. I hope JJ will break the Jinx. She has everything in her to get achieve a grandslam. I do hope JJ will maintan the way she played when she faces Serena. Go JJ, Get the open and get the number 1 ranking.

    From Ican79, on Sat 6 Sep 1:39PM

  14. Bravo Jeco,veliki pozdrav i puno srece iz Smedereva

    From chetnixser, on Sat 6 Sep 1:02PM

  15. Bravo Jeco!

    From Janna, on Sat 6 Sep 12:45PM

  16. Pitic ;-) Hahahahaha......
    Jeca is the best!She is very good person!Jelena you are a queen,because you are the best when it's hard!Good luck!Come on Jelena Jankovic!'Ajdeeeeeeeeeeee!I think that the Jelena is much better player than Serena,but Serene is also good player! Jelena is big champion!Jeca lioness!!!!!!!!Idemooooo!

    From Maja, on Sat 6 Sep 12:13PM

  17. It's time for Jelena to have grand slam title!!

    From Ana, on Sat 6 Sep 12:02PM

  18. JJ is lifting this trophy tonight

    From janekralj, on Sat 6 Sep 11:50AM

  19. I love JJ :-)

    From vrucepile, on Sat 6 Sep 11:20AM

  20. majasimic1989, thx. I hope i 've been objective, because i like Dementieva more then Jankovic, but last night the serbian was smarter and so i am happy for her and wish her the best with Serena.
    Zoran, you are funny ;)):d

    From Pitic, on Sat 6 Sep 10:20AM
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