Varvara Lepchenko stuns Jelena Jankovic in the second round encounter – French Open 2012
Yet another top class contender falls out of the French Open voyage this week, as the former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, bowed out to the 63rd ranked American contender, Varvara Lepchenko on Thursday. Seeded at
number 19 in the tournament draw this season, Jankovic faced a really tough opposition from Lepchenko and succumbed in the third set of the match to end her Roland Garros campaign in sheer dismay. The unseeded American settled the final scores at 7-6(4), 4-6,
6-4, in her favour, securing a berth in the third round of the Major tournament being played in Paris, France.
Jankovic was rated among the hot favourites for winning the French Open gold, something she has never achieved in her entire professional career. The Serbian number two was facing Lepchenko for the first time in her professional
career and couldn’t get settled in the contest until the conclusion. She suffered an early blow by dropping the opening set of the match but forced her way back in the competition by winning the following set. It seemed as if Jankovic has found her winning
groove but a cracking comeback from Lepchenko left her stranded in the end.
The 21st ranked Serbian came to Roland Garros with a four-match losing streak and could barely last one round at the coveted Grand Slam event to continue her dismal run of form. Jankovic coughed a total of 44 unforced
errors in the contest, including six taxing double faults to finish on the losing side in the end. The both contenders traded six break points apiece but it was it was Lepchenko’s amazing points winning proficiency which took the better of the former world
number one. She kept winning crucial points on regularity and served out of the decisive set to reach the third round of the French Open.
"After that last point I couldn't believe the match was over," Lepchenko said. "I was still in the moment. I think I was able to play another couple of games, so that's why I was pretty shocked. At the same time I'm pretty happy,
because this is the first time I'm through the second round at a Grand Slam."
Lepchenko will square off against the former Roland Garros champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, in the third round of the tournament draw. She plonked the Bulgarian number one, Tsvetana Pironkova, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the second
round clash a day ago.
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