Jelena Jankovic photos,pictures,who beats pain barrier to dump Serena

MELBOURNE, Jan 22, 2008 (AFP) - Defending champion Serena Williams crashed out of the Australian Open in a straight sets quarter-final loss to Jelena Jankovic Tuesday, the Serb third seed shocking even herself with the gutsy win.

　　MELBOURNE, Jan 22, 2008 (AFP) - Defending champion Serena Williams crashed out of the Australian Open in a straight sets quarter-final loss to Jelena Jankovic Tuesday, the Serb third seed shocking even herself with the gutsy win.

　　Jankovic said she fought "like a wounded animal" to overcome the Amercian eight-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 6-4 in a one hour 38 minute clash where both women had to play through the pain barrier.

　　The 22-year-old's win sets up her first semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park, against either world number one and top seed Justine Henin or Russian fifth seed Maria Sharapova.

　　The Serb said she was thrilled to avenge her loss to Williams at last year's event, labelling the win her best Grand Slam performance as she finally overcame the injuries and poor form that marred her early matches this year.

　　"Getting revenge it feels so good. I'm so happy to be in the semi-final, after having no expectations, having injuries and not really thinking that I can go far," she said.

　　Williams, seeded seventh, was the hot favourite going into the match.

　　She had crushed her previous opponents while an out-of-sorts Jankovic scrambled to save three match points to avoid an embarassing first round exit.

　　Even Jankovic candidly admitted she feared master blaster Williams would blow her off court but she rediscovered her combative instincts to withstand the barrage.

　　"It was an unbelievable match and I'm still shaking," she said. "I'm so happy to be in the semi-final for the first time here in Australia.

　　"I came here with no expectations and to beat the defending champion and in general a champion like Serena, it doesn't happen every day."

　　A furious Williams shot herself in the foot with a mistake-ridden display that included 36 unforced errors, more than double Jankovic's 17.

　　She was reduced to smashing her racquet into the court in frustration as Jankovic racked up one service break after another.

　　Jankovic said the critics who wrote her off had ignored the fighting qualities that made her number four in the world.

　　"Knowing that I'm injured they think that I cannot play, but I'm like a wounded animal, I still keep going," she said.

　　The Serb began tentatively, surrendering a service break in the second game.

　　But that was the only time the titleholder was ahead as Jankovic found her range and stunned her opponent by taking the next four games.

　　Williams held serve with an ace to make it 5-3 but Jankovic continued to run her around and broke again to take the first set after 36 minutes.

　　"I was going for my shots, especially my backhand down the line was working unbelievably and that's how I hurt my opponent," Jankovic said.

　　"I just kept hitting it, and luckily it was all going in."

　　The pair exchanged two service breaks early in the second set, with Williams screaming in anger and smashing her racquet after conceding the second break to put Jankovic up 3-2.

　　Both players received courtside medical treatment after the fifth game, Williams suffering blisters on her right foot while Jankovic had a sharp pain in her left thigh.

　　"It was like a knife went in my leg, it was really painful," she said adding that she did not expect her niggling injurues to hamper her in the semi-final.

　　She and Williams ignored the pain to play on, a committed Jankovic risking further injury when she almost performed the splits sliding to produce a spectacular forehand return and go up 4-3.

　　She had the chance to serve for the match at 5-3 but Williams held on. Jankovic, though, made no mistake two games later.