Williams Survives Jankovic’s Upset Bid in Second Round

Top-seeded Serena Williams of the United States and Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic battled it out for over two hours before Williams pulled out an exciting 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2, victory in a second-round match at the Acura Classic.

Before a large crowd that packed Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Jankovic overcame a slow start and matched Williams stroke for stroke and won the first set in a tiebreak.

Fans sensed an upset as Jankovic showed no signs of letting up. At one point, Williams could only laugh as Jankovic blew a winner past her from the baseline.

However, Williams displayed the experience and determination that made her the number one player in the world and cut down on the errors that hurt her early in the match.

After winning the second set 6-3, Williams took a 3-2 lead in third set and called for a WTA trainer who treated her for a blister on her left foot.

Despite visibly favoring her left foot, Williams extended her lead to 5-2 as she broke Jankovic when the Serbian’s backhand fell wide on break point.

With fans cheering, “Come on Serena,” Williams served for the match. At 30-30, she fired an ace clocked at 119-mph to reach her first match point of the afternoon.

Williams did not waste any time as she blasted another ace to end the match in two-hour and 18 minutes.

• As the top seed, Williams received a bye in the first round.
• Williams advances to the third round where she will face the winner of the Elena Bovina / Eleni Daniilidou match.
• Williams is ranked 14 in the world.
• Williams is making her Acura Classic singles debut. She reached the doubles final in 1999 with her sister Venus.
• Williams improves her 2004 match record to 27-5.
• Williams has won 24 WTA Tour singles titles.
• This was the first career head-to-head meeting between Williams and Jankovic.
• Jankovic is ranked 44 in the world.
• Jankovic was making her Acura Classic debut.
• Jankovic’s 2004 match record fell to 21-17.
• Jankovic defeated La Mesa’s Amber Liu 7-6 (4), 6-0 in the first round.
  

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