Tennis: Defending champion out as Serb shows her grit

Jelena Jankovic beating Claudine Schaul yesterday. Picture / Martin Sykes

Second seed Jelena Jankovic dodged a flu-coated bullet to advance to the last 16 at the ASB Classic yesterday but defending champion Eleni Daniilidou was not so lucky.

The 19-year-old Serb, who bolted from No 82 to 28 in world rankings last year, was off colour, hadn't hit a ball in practice for three days and struggled for much of her 7-5 6-2 win over Luxembourg's Claudine Schaul.

However third seed Daniilidou, bidding for a third straight Classic title, was out of sorts against unheralded Italian Mara Santangelo, who won 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. The pair met once last year, Santangelo winning at the Australian Open.

"I just lost all my concentration. I am just very disappointed," a tearful Daniilidou said.

Santangelo played strongly from the baseline and took her chances as Daniilidou's game collapsed.

"I didn't expect to win this match," a delighted Santangelo said. She was not alone in that.

As for Jankovic, she was fortunate that world No 61 Schaul was her own worst enemy in their clash. The Luxembourger blew several chances in the first set, just as Jankovic was blowing hard between points.

In the end, Jankovic gave glimpses of her strength from the back of the court. She reckons if she can shake off her bug she'll do well this week.

"It was really tough for me because I could not breathe. I did not have much energy, I feel weak and slow," she said. "If I can play my game, if I feel a little bit better, I will be okay."

Today she plays Spain's diminutive Nuria Llagostera Vives, who tipped out 2000 winner Anne Kremer in quick time yesterday.

Two qualifiers won through to the last 16 today. Slovakia's Janette Husarova removed sixth seed Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico 6-1, 6-2, and Israeli Shahar Peer beat Japan's Akiko Morigami in three sets.

Apart from Daniilidou, another seed was beaten last night, when Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia beat eighth-seeded Russian Alina Jidkova in three sets.

In addition to Canadian Marie-Eve Pelletier, beaten by New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, the other qualifiers to disappear yesterday were Japan's Yuka Yoshida, whipped 6-0, 6-1 by Czech Republic player Lucie Safarova, ranked 58 places below her opponent, and 2001 champion Meilen Tu, who won just four games against fellow American Jill Craybas.

A dark horse this week might be Japan's fourth seed Shinobu Asagoe. The world No 37 whistled past Ukrainian Tatiana Perebiynis yesterday and tackles unseeded American Shenay Perry today for a quarter-final spot.