Jelena Jankovic pulled off a rare come-from-behind win over Serena Williams to reach the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and is now one win away from her third career title at the Premier-level clay court tournament.After splitting sets in their very first meeting on clay, the pair embarked on what would become an epic decider, with Williams taking a 5-3 lead - with match point at 5-4 - and, after Jankovic brought it to a tie-break, Williams built a 5-2 lead. But Williams just couldn't close it out, and former No.1 Jankovic reeled off five points in a row to claim a 46 63 76(5) victory over the the reigning No.1.
"I just fought her hard. I was down quite a bit in the third set," Jankovic said. "She was serving at match point and was up in the tie-break too, but I tried to stay as positive as I could. I really did my best. A lot of matches throughout my career I have saved match points and then won the match. I know you just have to believe in yourself and know the match is not over until it is over."
With Jankovic beating Venus Williams in the quarters, this is the eighth time a player has beaten both sisters at the same event, and the first time on clay. Others to have done it are Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters (twice), Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin.
"Beating two Williams sisters in two days is amazing. I'm very proud of myself."
Jankovic will be going for her third Rome title, having won here in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008. Both Williams sisters had also won this title before, Venus doing it in 1999 and Serena achieving the feat in 2002.
"I really should have won the match. It was like I hadn't played since January 1942," Williams said. "I can't beat myself up over it though. I just came back after not playing a match since this January. I don't know it that's match toughness or not. I am looking forward to Madrid, that much I do know."
María José Martínez Sánchez continued her own dream run in the second semifinal, beating Ana Ivanovic, 64 62, to reach her first Premier-level final. Ivanovic had her best run of the year to get to the semifinals, upsetting Victoria Azarenka and Elena Dementieva along the way; but Martínez Sánchez, who had taken out Caroline Wozniacki along the way, raced out to double-break leads in both sets, winning handily in the pair's first career meeting.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Singles - Semifinals
(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (1/WC) Serena Williams (USA) 46 63 76(5)
María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 64 62
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