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By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, July 4, 2015

 
Jelena Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic upset defending champion Petra Kvitova, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in five years.

Photo credit: Wimbledon

Grass-court tennis makes Jelena Jankovic uncomfortable. Today, the former world No. 1 found her Centre Court comfort zone knocking reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova right out of the tournament.

Playing clean shot combinations and driving her backhand down the line at the right times, Jankovic surprised the second-seeded Czech, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, surging into the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time in five years.

More: Federer Defeats Groth To Reach Fourth Round

"Playing on grass doesn't come natural for me. The last couple of years I played so poorly," Jankovic told the BBC afterward. "Playing on Centre Court against the defending champion was unbelievable and the crowd was really great. So I'm really, really happy I was able to win this match."

It was an impressive effort given Kvitova's commanding form throughout the first week. The two-time champion had dropped only three games rampaging into the Wimbledon third round and seemed to be in control cruising through the first set in 30 minutes and going up a break in the second set.

At that point Kvitova, who had won five of their seven meetings including straights-sets wins in both of their 2015 matches, looked to be on course for another routine advance.

Jankovic had other ideas.

The 30-year-old Serbian remains one of the smoothest movers in the game. Jankovic put her legs to work, anticipating the direction of her opponents shots and extending points, forcing the flatter-hitting Kvitova to hit one more ball. As the match progressed, Kvitova grew wearier and her shots began to stray.

"It doesn't matter how bad I play or how good my opponent is playing or whatever is happening out there," Jankovic said. "She's playing unbelievable. She's in great form, there's no doubt about that. I just tried to stay one point at a time, hang in there, stay positive and fight and I made it."

Rallying to take the second set, Jankovic realized Kvitova was tiring which empowered her in the decider. Kvitova left the court after the second set, but couldn't find solutions for an ultra-consistent opponent in the third. Jankovic committed 10 fewer errors in the match.

"After I won that second set, I knew I had it," Jankovic said. "I just had to keep going....When that ball went into the net [on match point], I was like Oh my God I can't believe this just happened. This is what this sport is all about. It's such great excitement. I had a great time playing and I'm glad I was able to win against a two-time Wimbledon champion. It's amazing."

Wimbledon is the only major where Jankovic has yet to reach the quarterfinals, but the 30-year-old Serbian owns a Wimbledon mixed doubles crown (with Jamie Murray) and will face another savvy grass-court player, 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, for a spot in the quarterfinals. The 13th-seeded Radwanska has not lost a set reaching the round of 16 for the eighth time. Radwanska has won five of seven meetings with Jankovic.

Jankovic has lost all four of her prior Wimbledon fourth-rounders, but the Belgrade-born baseliner hopes this win will propel her forward.

"Beating [Kvitova] gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the tournament so hopefully I can keep going," Jankovic said.


 

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