Dulko adds to Jankovic’s woes

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 11:31

Gisela Dulko played one of the best matches of her career to defeat former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the second round of the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open.

The unseeded Argentine ousted the No.3 seed and last years finalist in straight sets 6-4 7-6(5) in the early hours of Sunday morning in Miami.

Jankovic struggled with her serve and allowed Dulko to dominate from both the baseline and at the net. Keeping Jankovic off balance was Dulkos game plan, and it worked effectively against the Serbian.

I tried to mix it up, said Dulko. I think it worked very well for me tonight.

I tried to mix it up. I think it worked very well for me tonight – Dulko

Jankovic, who has yet to recapture the form that led her to the No.1 ranking in 2008, suffered an opening round upset two weeks ago in Indian Wells and is facing a crisis after admitting that her pre-season training may have been too focused on her physique.

There’s no time to celebrate for Dulko, who now has seven career top-10 wins and now a first top-3 scalp. Up next is Iveta Benesova in the third round match scheduled for later in the day on Sunday.

Elsewhere in the women’s event, Serena Williams booked her place in the third round with a comfortable 6-2 6-3 win over Alexa Glatch.

World No.1 Williams, bidding for a hat-trick of titles in Miami, needed just over an hour to see off the wild-card entrant. Despite twice breaking Williams, world No.124 Glatch lost her own serve six times as she struggled to compete with the defending champion.

“I think Alexa played well today,” Williams said. “I thought she had a really good game to watch, a really different game. You don’t see that type of tennis being played too much, since a few years, or several years. I think she has a really good game. She’s really young, so she has a bright future.”

Reflecting on her own performance, Williams added: “I think I played okay. I definitely think I could have played better. But just a little jitters going out there – the first round no one wants to go out.” Williams faces Shuai Peng, who defeated Italian Mara Santangelo 7-5 6-3.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska had to come from a set down before battling passed Tamarine Tanasugarn 4-6 6-3 6-2. The No.10 seed next faces Kaia Kanepi following the Estonian’s 4-6 6-4 7-5 win over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

There were also victories for Alize Cornet, a 6-4 7-6 winner over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, and Jie Zheng, who defeated Julia Goerges 6-4 6-2.

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