Cincinnati (USA), Aug. 13: Top-seed Jelena Jankovic and second seed Caroline Wozniacki suffered surprise third-round exits in the Cincinnati Open on Thursday.
In fierce heat, Serbian Jankovic lost Akgul Amanmuradova 7-6, 6-4, and the Uzbeki qualifier now goes on to face another Serb, Ana Ivanovic. A lesser shock, but a surprise nonetheless, was Wozniacki falling to Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-1.
Completing a trio of upsets, Russian sixth-seed Vera Zvonareva went out in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to Italian Flavia Pennetta. Wozniacki was 4-3 up in the first set but then Bartoli rallied to claim the opening frame and then dominated the second where she won 14 of 16 first-serve points.
Wozniacki flew out to Ohio after winning the Danish Open last week and said she may have paid the price for that schedule. Bartoli will next play Russian Maria Sharapova.
Eighth-seeded Na Li of China also suffered a premature departure, losing to Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 in an exciting three-set encounter.
Ivanovic again looked in good form as she confidently defeated Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-0, 6-3. Clijsters bucked the upset trend with ease, ousting American Christina McHale 6-1, 6-1.