Match Summaries :: Press Box

	1	2	3
Kim CLIJSTERS (BEL)	6	3	6
Jelena JANKOVIC (SCG)	4	6	3

Clijsters Survives Jankovic’s Challenge

In an exciting third-round Acura Classic match punctuated by long rallies and nine deuce games, top-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium avoided an upset and eliminated unseeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

After rain delayed the start of the match by three hours, Jankovic began the match with a double fault and lost serve.

She came back to break Clijsters in the next game and tied the set at 1-1. Each player remained on serve until 3-3. Jankovic again began her service game with a double fault and went on to lose serve after a 12-point game.

Clijsters held to take a 5-3 lead but Jankovic fought off three break points in the next game to hold and narrow the gap to 5-4.

Serving for the set, Clijsters nearly blew the game as she double faulted twice to fall behind 30-40, but the top seed won the next two points as Jankovic committed two unforced errors. Clijsters wrapped up the set on the next point as Jankovic’s backhand crosscourt drop shot landed in the net.

Jankovic stormed back as she took a 5-1 lead in the second set and despite failing to serve out the set on her first attempt, won the set 6-3.

In the third and final set, one service game made all the difference for Jankovic as she found herself serving to stay in the match at 5-2. The Serbian easily held as Clijsters hit three straight backhand errors to make the score 5-3.

Serving for the match, Clijsters jumped out to a 40-15 lead but then hit a double fault and a crosscourt backhand wide as the game went to deuce.
Jankovic earned a break point as she smacked a crosscourt backhand winner. Clijsters fended off the break point when Jankovic’s backhand down the line sailed wide.

Clijsters earned her third match point of the day as Jankovic sent a forehand service return into the net. On the next point, the Belgian closed the door for the victory as she executed a perfectly hit forehand crosscourt winner.

Clijsters advances to the quarterfinals where she will meet the winner of the Martina Hingis / Flavia Pennetta match.
Clijsters is now 5-0 against Jankovic in career head-to-head meetings.
Clijsters is ranked number 2 in the world.
Clijsters improves her 2006 match record 34-8.
Clijsters is playing in her sixth career Acura Classic. She was the singles runner-up in 2003.
Jankovic is ranked 27 in the world.
Jankovic’s 2006 match record is now 20-19.
Jankovic was making her third career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the third round in 2005.

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