Top seed Jankovic loses in Australian Open
tennis
Jelena Jankovic went out in the fourth round of the Australian Open today, and No. 3 Dinara Safina was twice a point away from following the top-ranked player to the exit. In consecutive matches at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Frenchwomen took it to the top seeds. Jankovic was ousted by No. 16 Marion Bartoli. Safina survived, fending off double-match point against No. 15 Alize Cornet. "I am so lucky that I'm in the quarterfinals. She was one point away," said Safina, who made eight double faults and 52 unforced errors to 29 by Cornet. "My heart is still pumping so hard." Bartoli, the 2007 Wimbledon runner-up, was the aggressor in a 6-1, 6-4 win over Jankovic that wasn't entirely unexpected. Jankovic, a Serb, 23, remains without a Grand Slam singles title and could also be without the No. 1 ranking in another week. Critics questioned whether Jankovic could convert her numeric ranking into a victory in the championship match at a major. She was a semifinalist in the Australian Open and French Open last year before losing the U.S. Open final to Serena Williams, who at No. 2 is the highest-seeded player left in the Australian women's draw. On the men's side, No. 1 Rafael Nadal ripped 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Tommy Haas yesterday and next faces 2007 Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez. Gonzalez rallied saved match point en route to a 3-6, 3-6, 7-6 (10), 6-2, 12-10 win over Richard Gasquet of France. No. 4 Andy Murray won 11 straight games during a 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 win over Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
