Top seeds defeated in Cincinnati but Clijsters wins
Top seed Jelena Jankovic and second seed Caroline Wozniacki have both suffered upset losses in the third round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati.
Defending champion Jankovic was bundled out in straight sets by qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova. The 7-6(3), 6-4 victory by the world No. 114 marked her first win against a player ranked inside the top 10 and the first time in 2010 that Amanmuradova has reached the quarter-finals at a WTA Tour tournament.
"My opponent played really well. She served very well," said Jankovic. I thought that was the key to the match, actually. I didn't have much chance when I was returning.”
Amanmuradova served 12 aces for the match, and no double faults, to clinch a place in the final eight, where former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic now awaits.
Ivanovic, who currently sits at world No. 62 after a prolonged form slump, burst out of the blocks in her third round match against Elena Vesnina to wrap up the first set without dropping a game, eventually winning the match 6-0, 6-3.
The news wasn’t quite so good for world No. 3 Wozniacki, who was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by Marion Bartoli in her third round match, which began as a tightly contested encounter and ended as a one-sided route in the second, as Bartoli reeled off 32 winners for the match.
Kim Clijsters, who began her comeback after more than two years out of competition at this tournament last year, completed a routine 6-1, 6-1 victory against American wildcard Christina McHale in her third round match and will now play Flavia Pennetta in the quarters after the Italian defeated Wimbledon runner-up Vera Zvonareva in her third round match.
Also on the third round winners list was Maria Sharapova, who continued her strong current form with victory over seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Sharapova will now play Bartoli for a place in the semi-finals.
Tags: