Li dominates Jankovic to make US Open quarters
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 2, 2013
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Li Na is on course for a first semifinals appearance at US Open. |
Li Na of China made light work of former world number one Jelena Jankovic to breeze into the quarter-finals of US Open for the first time since 2009.
A last 16 encounter between No. 5 seed and No. 9 seed, which figured to be one of the most tightly contested matches on Sunday's slate at the US Open, turned out to be a lopsided game as Li dominated from start to finish in a 6-3, 6-0 win.
Jankovic started out slowly, hitting a double fault in her opening service game to get broken and trailed 3-0. Moving into the net at most short balls given to her, Li dictated the rallies and broke down the Jankovic forehand early on. The Serbian player sprayed a forehand long to give Li a 5-2 lead, but she continued to keep fighting. Jankovic fought off a set point on Li's serve and broke her with a beautiful backhand passing shot, but continued struggling on her serve. She immediately went down 0-40 serving at 3-5, and threw in her third double fault of the set to wrap things up.
Li continued to keep the pressure on Jankovic in the second set, rifling a forehand approach to score an early service break and lead 2-0. Jankovic has performed well before at the US Open, having reached her only Grand Slam women's singles final in 2008, but she showed none of that form tonight. Hitting only seven winners to 22 errors, she was broken once again with yet another forehand error to trail 4-0, and for all intents and purposes, it was over.
"I know Jankovic is always a tough opponent and until the umpire says 'Game, set, match,' everyone has a chance," said the 2011 French Open winner. "I hope to just keep this same level for my other matches."
Li has never advanced to the semifinals before at the US Open, but will be a heavy favorite to do so against No. 24 seed Ekaterina Makarova, who shocked No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the biggest upset of the women's draw so far.
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