Tennis
Peng pings Jankovic in Melbourne Park shock
Updated: 2011-01-20 11:21
(Agencies)
|
Peng Shuai of China hits a return to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during their match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 20, 2011. REUTERS |
MELBOURNE, Jan 20 - China's Peng Shuai knocked seventh seed Jelena Jankovic out of the Australian Open on Thursday, her 7-6 6-3 second round win providing the first genuine upset of the week at Melbourne Park.
Serbian Jankovic, a semi-finalist here in 2008, blew a lead of two service breaks in the first set before claiming a third to force a tiebreak, which she lost 7-3.
Peng, ranked 54th in the world after struggling with injury last year, broke for a 4-2 lead in the second and served out for victory three games later, dancing around the Hisense Arena court with a huge smile on her face.
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia hits a return to Peng Shuai of China at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 20, 2011. REUTERS |
Jankovic was once again left ruing her inconsistency after serving up 39 unforced errors against her deceptively hard-hitting opponent.
Peng's triumph continues China's good showing in the women's draw at the Australian Open, now officially titled the "Grand Slam of the Asia/Pacific".
Her compatriots Li Na and Zheng Jie both reached the semi-finals last year. Ninth seed Li reached the third round on Wednesday with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Evgeniya Rodina of Russia, while Zheng missed the tournament through injury.
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