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 | Record performances Take a look at players who have won and put themselves in the record books at the U.S. Open. NBCSports.com |
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That was quite a different take on things from a disappointed loser than Serena Williams offered after her straight-set setback against Henin, including a reference to the Belgian’s “lucky shots.”
Now take that in, and consider Jankovic’s explanation for why she applauded a couple of Venus Williams’ top efforts and smiled in appreciation when she glanced at the speed readout and saw a 121 mph serve.
“When she hits a great shot, why not? You can say, ’Well done.’ Nothing wrong with that,” said Jankovic, who beat the older Williams at Wimbledon last year and at the French Open this year. “I cannot do anything when she hits an unbelievable serve. I cannot return it. So why not give her credit?”
Jankovic enjoyed nearly every moment out there, smiling while waiting to receive serves and laughing even when she shanked a ball off her ankle or, later, when she slipped to the ground and did a full splits on a key third-set point.
She broke in the very first game, capping it with a perfectly placed lob. That was the first of four lob winners that Jankovic curled like a rainbow over the 6-foot-1 Williams, including one so good it drew applause from the American’s mom.
Jankovic broke again for a 4-1 edge by smacking a return winner off a 100 mph serve. Then, serving for the opening set at 5-4, Jankovic fell behind love-30 and easily could have folded, much as she did when she blew a huge lead against Henin in last year’s Open semifinals.
But this time, she hung tough, taking four points in a row — including ending one 19-stroke exchange with a backhand winner — to grab the set. That drew loud chants of “Yell-eh-na!” from Serb supporters standing at the top of the upper deck.
The second set started with more of the same. Williams hit two double-faults — she wound up with eight — and wildly missed a swinging volley to set up another break point. Jankovic converted it with — what else? — a lob, then held up a fist.
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And right there is where Williams flipped a switch, her game suddenly as bright as all of the flash bulbs popping around Arthur Ashe Stadium. She took seven of the next eight points, opening a six-game sweep through the end of the set.
The third set featured some brilliant shotmaking by both women, exactly the sort of display tournament organizers envisioned when they moved this match off Tuesday’s schedule in hopes of adding some star power Wednesday.
That sure worked, and the enthralled fans showed their appreciation with a standing ovation before the tiebreaker. They repeated the gesture when the match ended.
“It went the distance,” Williams said. “It was awesome.”
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