Stosur stuns Serena, Jankovic wins
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2010, Thursday
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TOP-RANKED Serena Williams was eliminated in the French Open quarterfinals yesterday, squandering a match point and losing to Australian spoiler Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 8-6.
The upset was the second in a row for the No. 7-seeded Stosur, and the third in as many days at Roland Garros. Stosur ended four-time champion Justine Henin's Roland Garros winning streak at 24 matches in the fourth round.
On the men's side on Tuesday, top-ranked Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling.
Then Serena made her exit, with stretches of brilliant tennis by Stosur hastening the departure. The Australian, long regarded as a doubles specialist, used her forceful forehand to build a lead, winning 17 consecutive points during one stretch.
Serena mounted one of her patented comebacks, and as the tension built in an error-filled third set, she needed only one point in the 10th game for the victory.
Her forehand sailed an inch long.
Stosur then regained her early form. She hit consecutive crosscourt winners to break for a 7-6 lead, then served out the victory, hitting service winners on the final three points.
It was Serena's first grand slam loss since her meltdown in the semifinals of the US Open last September against Kim Clijsters.
This time she directed any anger only at herself.
In rallies she often seemed hesitant, indecisive and on the defensive, pinned deep by Stosur's big forehand and slice backhands. Serena hit one backhand that barely reached the bottom of the net, took an awkward swing at an overhead and flubbed a forehand putaway in the forecourt.
Jelena Jankovic was struggling to put away unseeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan but chuckled with relief when her tall opponent lined up an easy smash, set herself, but swished at thin air instead of connecting with a ball that was begging to be walloped for a winner.
It was no laughing matter for the 22-year-old Shvedova as it allowed Jankovic to level the set at 4-4 before rolling through the following two games to win 7-5, 6-4 and reach her third semifinal at Roland Garros.
"It was nerves and a little bit of wind," Shvedova, who switched nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2008, told reporters. "The ball blew and moved a move a little bit. I just missed it. It happens."
Jankovic will have to play better in the last four against Stosur.
"It will be a tough match. I have played (Stosur) this year but on a hard court. So this will be a different match. We're playing on clay. I'll just play my game and give my maximum," Jankovic said.
The upset was the second in a row for the No. 7-seeded Stosur, and the third in as many days at Roland Garros. Stosur ended four-time champion Justine Henin's Roland Garros winning streak at 24 matches in the fourth round.
On the men's side on Tuesday, top-ranked Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling.
Then Serena made her exit, with stretches of brilliant tennis by Stosur hastening the departure. The Australian, long regarded as a doubles specialist, used her forceful forehand to build a lead, winning 17 consecutive points during one stretch.
Serena mounted one of her patented comebacks, and as the tension built in an error-filled third set, she needed only one point in the 10th game for the victory.
Her forehand sailed an inch long.
Stosur then regained her early form. She hit consecutive crosscourt winners to break for a 7-6 lead, then served out the victory, hitting service winners on the final three points.
It was Serena's first grand slam loss since her meltdown in the semifinals of the US Open last September against Kim Clijsters.
This time she directed any anger only at herself.
In rallies she often seemed hesitant, indecisive and on the defensive, pinned deep by Stosur's big forehand and slice backhands. Serena hit one backhand that barely reached the bottom of the net, took an awkward swing at an overhead and flubbed a forehand putaway in the forecourt.
Jelena Jankovic was struggling to put away unseeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan but chuckled with relief when her tall opponent lined up an easy smash, set herself, but swished at thin air instead of connecting with a ball that was begging to be walloped for a winner.
It was no laughing matter for the 22-year-old Shvedova as it allowed Jankovic to level the set at 4-4 before rolling through the following two games to win 7-5, 6-4 and reach her third semifinal at Roland Garros.
"It was nerves and a little bit of wind," Shvedova, who switched nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2008, told reporters. "The ball blew and moved a move a little bit. I just missed it. It happens."
Jankovic will have to play better in the last four against Stosur.
"It will be a tough match. I have played (Stosur) this year but on a hard court. So this will be a different match. We're playing on clay. I'll just play my game and give my maximum," Jankovic said.
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