The Stars and Stripes still fluttered in Friday’s sunshine but only one American player remained in the French Open singles after Venus Williams fell in the third round to Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic.
University student Jankovic, the hottest player on the woman’s tour this year, probably cringed when she saw Venus on her horizon so early in the draw. Her dominant 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory justified her pre-tournament billing, however.
As the temperatures in the French capital nudged upwards after a cool, rainy start to the championships, world number one Roger Federer also warmed to the task of bagging the only Major to elude him with another majestic display.
The Swiss moved menacingly into the fourth round with his third straight-sets victory, this time a 6-2 6-3 6-0 rout of Italian claycourter Potito Starace.
”It came naturally today [Friday], especially in the third set. I was playing well, my serve was working well. I’m happy to have won in straight sets,” Federer said.
While Serbs have been revelling in the Parisian red clay this week, the US will have no further interest in the singles should Serena Williams follow Venus out later when she plays Michaella Krajicek.
The fact she is flying the flag alone has much to do with the impressive play of Jankovic, although Venus, runner-up here in 2002, was in one of her more self-destructive moods, spraying 52 unforced errors in the contest.
”I just went long, long, long but it’s only a matter of time before it goes in, in, in,” the 26-year-old Williams, looking for some encouragement before Wimbledon later this month, told reporters.
”She was a bit more patient than me but at least I played with courage,” added the American.
The 22-year-old Jankovic, born in Belgrade but another graduate of the Bolletieri Academy in Florida, has now beaten Williams three times in a row and this latest triumph propelled her into the fourth round for the first time.
”I stayed tough out there in the third set and I never had in my mind that I was going to lose,” said Jankovic, who received loud vocal support from a sizeable entourage in the players’ box.
”It’s a shame that Venus had to go out so early; it was an incredible draw for a third-round match.”
Women’s top seed and defending champion Justin Henin, a possible semifinal opponent for Jankovic, is in action later on day six against Mara Santangelo.
In other third round action 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, the 17th seed, was beaten by Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-2 while Juan Monaco of Argentina beat French wildcard Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4 6-2 6-4. — Reuters