What’s Up With Jalena?
Whatever Jalena Jankovic is eating, the former number one Serb should stick with the diet. There’s a little more bounce in her game and oodles of confidence to go along with her resurgent play. The 2010 Indian Wells Champion has brought her new attitude to Miami and the 7 seed is moving smoothly through the field.
After a sound thrashing of Ukrainian Mariya Korettsyva 6-,4, 6-0 in impressive fashion, Jankovic continues to play with uncharacteristic focus.
But, looming out there in ever-ever land is unseeded Justine Henin who dominated 5th seed Elena Dementieva for the second time this season. Her Miami and Melbourne second round defeats leave Elena pretty certain that this holder of seven Grand Slams should be ranked higher than 35th, and the sooner the better.
The irrepressible Henin had better control of her first serve and moved up to take Dementieva’s serve on the rise and she controlled throughout in the 6-3, 6-2 triumph. Henin said she had worked hard since her early ouster at Indian Wells and was diversifying her game, including implementing aggressive net surges to overcome top ten players.
Another Belgian joined Henin and Wickmayer in the third round and that is strong bookie favorite, Kim Clijsters, who has had two shabby outings of late. Not so on Friday as the poised former number one barely gave Russian Petra Kvitova time to catch her breath before a 6-1, 6-1 return to the locker room.
Clijsters last won the tourney in 2005 and in one of just four previous winners still alive. The inconsistent play that typified her Indian Wells return was absent today and the 14th seed looks comfortable to advance deep in the draw.
Number two seed Caroline Wozniacki overcame deficits, weak serving and unfocused play in coming back against upset minded Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova in her tense 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win. Princess Caroline found herself down an early break in the third but managed to step up her ground game in the nick of time.
Ninth seeded Samantha Stosur had her capable hands full also. Carla Suarez Navarro had Stosur on the ropes at 5-3 in the second set but lost four straight games allowing Samantha to surge to a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win.
Eleven seed Vera Zvonareva demolished American favorite Melanie Oudin, who struggles to find a winning serve. Defending champion Victoria Azarenka looked impressive against Romanian Alexandra Doplgheru 6-3, 6-2.
Impressive Italian youngster Sara Errani, who gave Jankovic her sternest test at Indian Wells, looked very impressive inn ousting 24th seed Alisa Kleybanova 6-4, 7-5. Errani is a striking athlete and has unusual power. She will be hard to take out.
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