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A big step foward: Ivanovic jars Jankovic in classic

Injured Sharapova withdraws before Petrova semi

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Rodrigo Santa Cruz/
Sportska Centrala, Serbia

FROM THE EAST WEST BANK CLASSIC IN LA – Jelena Jankovic had said that her style didn't fit well against Ana Ivanovic, but for much of her 4-6 6-3 7-5 loss to the 19-year-old, she did just fine, returning well, mixing up her shot selection and hammering Ivanovic's backhand.

She ran faster, found cuter angles with her groundies and served consistently deep and with variety. She didn't look tired at all early and was more focused than she has been all week. After all, this contest had great significance because it would determine which of the Serbians had more legitimate US Open hopes and who is really having a better season.

Too bad there was no such prognostication coming from Maria Sharapova's match against Nadia Petrova, as the top seed pulled out prior to the match because of a strain in her lower left leg.

Despite her now No. 4 ranking to Jankovic's No. 3, it's Ivanovic who has had the more impressive '07 campaign, and she proved it by coming back from a 1-4 deficit in the third set and two match points down to notch another huge victory. She may appear to some to be an overly sappy, sweet kid without enough inner fire, but Ivanovic took three steps up the guts ladder against Jankovic, ripping an armful of winners when it mattered most.

"I played some awesome points when it was very important and I'm really happy with that," Ivanovic said.
AI was beyond awesome, especially with her forehand, which when she's feeling right, might be the most effective one in the women's game. She went way into double digits in the winner's category in that department in the third set, caning Jankovic until her wrist hurt.

Jankovic played standout defensive to race out to 4-1 lead in the third set and held a break point to go 5-1, but Ivanovic stepped around her backhand and ripped an inside-out forehand winner. From there, she snapped her smaller opponent in half.

Ivanovic eventually broke back to 4-3 with another vicious inside out forehand winner, and then held to 4-4 with a 95-mph ace.

Even though her energy level had dropped to her toes, Jankovic grabbed two match points with Ivanovic serving at 5-4. But those chances disappeared in a quick turn of a brunette ponytail when Ivanovic pulled off a delicious forehand drop shot volley winner and then banged a serve and forehand crosscourt. She held with an inside out forehand winner.

The 19-year-old Serb thought back to Wimbledon, when she was down 5-3 and three match points to Nicole Vaidisova in the quarters and came back to shock the Czech.

"I never give up so I tried to focus on each point and take more time on my serve," Ivanovic said. "It was important to run around and hit my forehand because it's more powerful and she likes to run, so I tried to step forward more and hit it."

But it was in the next game when she was the most impressive. Down 40-0 with Jankovic serving, she nailed five straight forehand winners. The outcome was never in doubt after that and she won the match when a tired Jankovic erred on a forehand, She let out an ear-piercing squeal.

"It's important to believe in her shots. This gives me a lot of confidence because she's a great player and matches like these count the most," Ivanovic said. "Looking at the big picture toward the US Open it's a step forward for me."

JANKOVIC APPLAUDS ANA
Credit to Jankovic for actually paying homage to her foe after the match, when she could have said that it was a bad cold that took away her chances. Ivanovic has now beaten her four out of five times and while four of those matches have been tight, it's the Roland Garros finalist who at this point looks like she's the one with No. 1 potential.

"I had some chances, but I was little flat and tired," Jankovic said. "It was like playing against a guy with the way her serves are coming at me and it's really scary when she starts to scream. She's a powerful girl who came up with big shots when she needed to."

After she left her post injury press conference, Maria Sharapova apologized for being unable to play. Someone told her to get better and she responded, "I've heard that one before."

Too much this season and now Sharapova's US Open chances are at risk again. At 4 pm, a muscle in her left shin began to tighten up to the point where she could barely lift her foot. She tried to practice, but couldn't run down balls. She was treated by a doctor and trainer for two hours, but still couldn't make it on court against Petrova. She cried because, although the tournament is a Tier II, it's just down the road from her house and LA women love to show their best stuff in front of the rest of the neighborhood.

"I had it all. Anti-inflammatories, deep tissue massage, an ice bath, I even had acupuncture in my ear," said Sharapova, who once had a similar injury and is hoping it will get better in a few days. "I'm not going to sit here and say this or that is the cause because I don't know."

Sharapova is not scheduled to play again until she defends her US Open title, and her hopes of going back-to-back in San Diego and LA for the first time and getting revenge on Ivanovic for the beating she put on her in Paris were dashed.

Now it's Petrova who wants revenge on AI, who came back from a break down against her on Court 2 at Wimbledon in the round of 16 and ended up cashing in 6-4 in the third set. Petrova thinks the lines people took the match away from her with lousy calls.