Jankovic stunned by teenage star

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:37

Oudin, a 17-year-old from the state of Georgia in the United States, came through qualifying to reach the main draw but is now heading for the last 16 and making a name for herself.

She dropped the first set on a tie-break to Serbian Jankovic, a former world number one, but fought back to win 6-7 (10/8) 7-5 6-2.

The 24-year-old looked to be struggling fitness-wise during the match and took a long medical time-out at the end of the first set, in which she saved four set points.

Both players had struggled to hold serve, with an early exchange of breaks followed by another which enabled Jankovic to move 5-3 in front.

However, Oudin then reeled off the next three games, forced Jankovic to save set point on serve, and the pair eventually went to the tie-break.

Oudin’s big forehand was her obvious weapon and Jankovic was struggling to keep her on the backhand side, which by comparison was weak. But a missed forehand allowed Jankovic to reach set point and she made no mistake.

Oudin broke at the start of the second set but Jankovic broke back swiftly, and the pattern was then repeated.

A second tie-break seemed likely but Oudin broke in the 11th game and then came back from 0-30 on serve to hold and level the match at one set each.

With Jankovic having seemed unhappy for much of the Court Three clash, it was hardly a surprise when Oudin broke at the start of the third set. As Jankovic’s challenge crumbled, Oudin held her nerve to book a clash with either Agnieszka Radwanska or Na Li in the fourth round.

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