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By Erik Gudris | Monday, June 2, 2014

 
Sara Errani Fist Pump French Open 2014

Italy's Sara Errani emerged victorious after a hard fought battle against Jelena Jankovic to reach the elite eight in Paris. Next up is Andrea Petkovic.

Photo Credit: AP

Italy's Sara Errani finds herself back into the French Open elite eight for a third straight year. But it wasn't easy.

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That's because No. 10 seed Errani battled against No. 6 seed Jelena Jankovic in a tense fourth round encounter filled with momentum swings and plenty of drama.

Errani took control early after breaking Jankovic in the Serbian's opening service game. Jankovic would break back, but it was Errani who often had the last say in their baseline rallies. From 1-4 down, Jankovic got her game going and soon put things back on serve. Jankovic soon called for a medical time out as she needed attention for her heavily taped right thigh.

When play resumed, Jankovic cracked a backhand return winner to level the set at 4-all. With that, Errani now in tears walked back to her chair.

With each player's respective teams shouting in support on every point, both women resumed their titanic struggle for the baseline as they tried to place one more shot out of the reach of the other. Jankovic, missing out on a set point while up 6-5, soon found herself in a tiebreak after nearly 90 minutes of intense play. Errani leapt out to a 5-2 lead, only to strike three straight backhand errors allowing Jankovic back in for 5-all.

Yet Errani, with a piercing forehand, created a set point chance for herself. Errani converted to take the set 7-6(5) after Jankovic netted a forehand.

With Jankovic broken right away in the second set, it looked like she might be done. Despite going down 0-3, Jankovic mounted yet another comeback attempt. Jankovic broke Errani to get back on serve, but the toll of losing the first set tiebreak appeared to weigh heavy on the Serbian.

Errani, a former French Open finalist in 2012, began moving Jankovic all around the court. Soon, the Italian would go up another break lead for 5-2. This time, it appeared Jankovic had little left in response.

Though missing on her first match point opportunity, Errani would soon hold another in the next game. When Jankovic sent a final down the line backhand just wide, Errani put her fingers to the lips as if not wishing to reveal her secret plan for success.

After the handshake though, Errani erupted in celebration after the hard fought 7-6(5), 6-2 victory.

"Yeah, it's a big disappointment, especially due to, you know, when you see the draw and who is left in the draw and who's probably, you know one of those French Opens that it opened up, especially for me," Jankovic said later. "I did not do so well. When I was doing well, I was winning the games. But then, you know, I didn't do enough when I needed."

"Of course, was very important to win that first set. Of course, I'm very happy to win this difficult match for me," Errani said about her result.

Next up for Errani will be Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

Having come back from recent injury woes, the now No. 28 seed Petkovic found herself against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in the fourth round.

After splitting the first two sets, both players engaged in a roller coaster final set. Petkovic would lead 4-2, then fell behind 4-5. Yet the German managed a late break of serve as she went on to win 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

"I wasn't surprised, but, you know, it's always tough when you are the huge favorite and everybody expects you to win and then you have a super tough opponent. I'm relieved and very happy. It's nice to be back at the quarterfinal stage," Petkovic said.

Paris marks the first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance for Petkovic since 2011.

 

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