Jankovic crashes out in Moscow

Eurosport - Fri, 23 Oct 15:59:00 2009

Champion Jelena Jankovic was dumped out of the Kremlin Cup quarter-finals by Alisa Kleybanova 6-4 6-3, a day after clinching the last remaining spot in next week's WTA championships in Doha.

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia returns the ball to Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during their Kremlin Cup match at Olympic stadium in Moscow - 0

The Serbian second seed ended her stay in Moscow by double-faulting twice on the last two points to gift-wrap the win to the unseeded Russian after 85 minutes.

"It was a difficult match for me, I tried my best but she played better," world number nine Jankovic, who lost to 27th-ranked Kleybanova in Toronto in August in their only previous meeting.

"I can't say I was holding myself back having already qualified for Doha, but sometimes you try and it just doesn't work out."

Kleybanova, 20, said she fully deserved her victory.

"Of course, I'm very happy, but I've already beaten her once and I wanted to prove that that win was no fluke," she said.

"Last time we played I had to save match points in the second set before winning in three, so this time it was very important for me to beat her in two sets, to show that I'm a better player."

Jankovic's defeat continued the cull of seeds at the annual indoor tournament, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Top seed Vera Zvonareva was thrashed by world number 126 Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0 6-2 in the second round, ending the Russian's hopes of qualifying for Doha, while Poland's third seed Agnieszka Radwanska lost to Russia's Maria Kirilenko in the first round.

Italian Francesca Schiavone, at number eight, is the highest seed left in the women's draw after beating Kirilenko 6-3 6-2 earlier in the day.

In the women's semi-finals, Schiavone will face unseeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

Bondarenko, who had lost in the first round on both of her previous appearances in Moscow, was the first to seal her place in the last four with a routine 6-3 6-3 win over Pironkova, sending the Bulgarian qualifier down to earth less than 24 hours after her biggest victory.

WTA Moscow semi-finals: Saturday 24th October 09.45am LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Reuters

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. I believe JJ will show what she really knows, against­ the best players in Doha.. I watched this Kleybanova­ today, and she was ridiculous.. She can only dream to­ be close to JJ in anything.
    Go JJ !

    From Igor K, on Sat 24 Oct 3:35PM

  2. Jeco, srecno u Dohi!!!

    From mira, on Sat 24 Oct 2:04PM

  3. And what have we heard...Fat girl said-I'm a better­ player..haha...yea' right...
    You need to beat­ someone at least 5 times to say something like­ that.
    And JJ,seems like her mind was already in­ Doha,and that double faulting at end-it was look like­ she wanted to finish it faster as she can.

    From Who Cares?, on Sat 24 Oct 1:42PM

  4. Really i dont know whta's going on with JJ. she has­ losen her energy, her smile, her possitive thoughts­ thats she had on 2008. In a year like 2009 is, is­ dificult to understand why she played liek this. all­ the others were taf and bad, we had not seen until now­ any good game on 2009. all girls were too bad. i­ supposed that JJ will taken all on 2009 , but she was­ very down why JJ? come back as you was if you need to­ see the first 10 places again.
    i am happy because next­ year we will see great games with Justine again near­ us. we will see energy, power, technic and the best­ backhand in the world again. all the best to you­ Justine , we need you!!!

    From maria s, on Sat 24 Oct 12:33PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    sean_jones1990 lets see your face, I'll bet you are­ some ugly mutha phuka. I'll go along with janice m­ and hope that JJ is focussing on Doha. She's too­ good a player and is well overdue a big one. Good luck.

    From sanchez.santos, on Sat 24 Oct 11:26AM

  6. As I've said in free-online verse, females should­ play TABLE tennis, which puts far less stress on the­ racket/bat arm.

    From David Franks: Walkabouts Verse, on Sat 24 Oct 11:07AM

  7. Number 13, GOOD POINT.....though, same to be said about­ your photo, a Spanish actor indeed perhaps.

    From sjhill96, on Sat 24 Oct 8:44AM

  8. Her recent performance clearly shows that she is not­ "Heads and Shoulders" above the other­ players!

    From Emmveeyem, on Sat 24 Oct 8:37AM

  9. Tim is spot on. Let's hope Clijsters and Henin will­ make a difference.

    From Jimmy, on Sat 24 Oct 7:37AM

  10. Would you like to make friends with people from other­ country or place?
    Log on--------- T ALL Cha t ---C o m­ ----
    Then you can get help and suggestions from all­ over the world.
    While you may find your true love or­ friendship there.

    From kojanet26, on Sat 24 Oct 2:07AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    of corz beating VaJJ is no fluke. her style of play­ will no longer move mountains against players that are­ highly aggressive. she will always end up chasing­ balls. no wander she gets too many injuries each­ season. She should be contemplating of retiring­ alongside with Marat Safin and pursue an acting career­ in Serbia.

    From Ray V, on Fri 23 Oct 10:59PM

  12. No surprise there . In today's women's tennis­ ANY player can beat ANY other player regardless of­ their rankings . Mediocrity rules supreme !!

    From Tim, on Fri 23 Oct 9:00PM

  13. I hate hate hate kleybanova.. i hate her head movements­ when she hits the ball!! she is so fat and ugly too.­ and saying "to show that I'm a better­ player" is abit smug. she rarely beats a top ten­ player so i dont know why she is getting all high and­ mighty the fat MESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From sean_jones1990, on Fri 23 Oct 8:57PM

  14. Also high time the journalists stopped using such­ inappropriate street language. All of them who­ "crashed out", are thanks God well and alive,­ and I hope we will have a chance to see them again,­ sound, "crashing thru"!

    From Milan, on Fri 23 Oct 7:55PM

  15. No matter what happened today, we watched tennis. JJ­ lost, but it was not for the 1st time. Good thing is­ that she still has her life and enjoy playing tennis.­ That's the reason to give her a support, even when­ she is losing. It's true, she used to play better,­ hope she will show us the old JJ we used to see on­ court. Best wishes in future tournaments.

    From Milan, on Fri 23 Oct 7:41PM

  16. Alisa in Wonderland!
    Wow, slow down,girl! Who do you­ think you are? You have to prove yourself much,much­ more if you want to be a better player than Jankovic!­ Now,you are just average, but very arrogant player!!!

    From zivkovicirena, on Fri 23 Oct 7:36PM

  17. Alisa in Wonderland!
    Wow, slow down,girl! Who do you­ think you are? You have to prove yourself muchmmuch­ more if you want to be a better player than Jankovic!­ Now,you are just average, but very arrogant player!!!

    From zivkovicirena, on Fri 23 Oct 7:36PM

  18. Conserving energy for end of year champs

    From janice m, on Fri 23 Oct 7:24PM

  19. well well well u heard it from Kleybanova, she's a­ better player than Jankovic, meow!!!

    From Vic M, on Fri 23 Oct 7:19PM

  20. another person 'crahes out' for goodness sake,­ can't these people think of other words to use?

    From Sam, on Fri 23 Oct 7:16PM
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