Anna Chakvetadze hadn’t scored a Top 10 win since February 2008, but she improved by beating world No.6 and third seed Jelena Jankovic, who followed fellow falling Serbian star Ana Ivanovic out of the AEGON International. Final score: 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2. Thankfully, unlike Ana, for Jelena we can at least say she was upset!
Not only is Jankovic still in the mud, and she lost in the first round of a tournament, but she lost to Anna Chakvetadze, who herself said “I am pleased with every win right now because it’s very important to me to get back my confidence.”
Jankovic has started losing in the very beginnings of tournaments, and plus, to insecure players. Chakvetadze had last defeated a Top 10 opponent when she beat Marion Bartoli at the Paris Indoor event.
Jankovic’s excuse for the defeat was the change of surface: “It was obviously my first match on grass.” However, the 24-year-old also mentioned her worrying lack of motivation: “I’ll play Wimbledon and then we’ll see. At least I can take a few weeks off then. I wish I could take a break now. I need to get to where I want to play tennis again.”
It could make Jankovic any better that second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Aleksandra Wozniak in straight sets 6-0 6-3, just days after lifting the French Open trophy, while fourth seed Vera Zvonareva fell to Amelie Mauresmo 6-3 1-6 6-3, in the opening round as well. (via M&G, photo: Ralf Reinecke)
