Fri Aug 29 13:45:30 2008

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Jankovic reaches fourth round in NYC

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Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic was a hard-fought third-round victor Friday at the 2008 U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Jankovic snuck past gritty Chinese Jie Zheng 7-5, 7-5 at Ashe Stadium. The hard-hitting Serb needed 2 hours, 10 minutes to advance.

Jankovic prevailed in a wild 12th game in the second set on Day 5 here. The Serb needed five match points in an 18-minute game that went to deuce 11 times and saw Zheng have seven break-point chances.

The 23-year-old Jankovic converted on her fifth match point when Zheng netted one final weak forehand.

Zheng was a surprise Wimbledon semifinalist last month. She shocked French Open champion Ana Ivanovic in the third round at the All England Club.

Jankovic is the highest women's seed standing in New York, as her top-seeded countrywoman Ivanovic was a shocking second-round loser against French qualifier Julie Coin here on Thursday.

The popular Jankovic, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2006 and quarterfinalist here last year, was ranked No. 1 for just one week two weeks ago.

Jankovic will meet the Victoria Azarenka-Caroline Wozniacki winner in the fourth round this weekend. Wozniacki was last week's hardcourt titlist in New Haven.