Russian assault continues on Day 3

By Greg Heakes

NEW YORK

Aug. 28: Serbian stars Novak Djokovic and Jelena Jankovic hobbled to victory on centre court while the Russian assault continued on day three of the $20.6 million US Open.

An ailing Djokovic overcame a left foot injury to defeat Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match, while Jankovic struggled with fatigue but held on to beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 in their second round match on Wednesday.

Djokovic reached the final in New York last year where he lost to four-time reigning champion Roger Federer and has won three titles this year including his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The 21-year-old Serbian is also fresh off winning the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Djokovic moves through to the second round where he will face American Robert Kendrick.

In the third set against Clement, Djokovic twisted his left ankle while lunging for a shot on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium.

At the time he was two sets up and leading 2-1 in the third. After a 10 minute time out to get the ankle taped, the match resumed with Clement winning the next point to level the final set at 2-2.

But Djokovic cruised from there winning four of the next five games, clinching the win in straight sets when Clement’s final shot sailed long.

Djokovic expects the foot to be almost as good as new in a couple of days.

The 23-year-old Jankovic has reached two semi-finals in Grand Slams this year (French Open and Australian Open) but has never made it to a final in 20 career major appearances.

The pesky Swede Arvidsson made Jankovic work for Wednesday’s win.

Jankovic moves through to the third round where she will face China’s Zheng Jie who beat Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-1, 6-4.

Five Russians, including four seeded players, advanced on Wednesday while Vera Zvonareva became the first seeded Russian casualty.

Beijing Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva beat Pauline Parmentier of France 6-2, 6-1. Dementieva, the runner-up in 2004, is making her 10 straight US Open appearance.

Dementieva, who is ranked sixth in the world, moved through to the third round where she will face Great Britain’s Anne Keothavong who surprised 25th seeded Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova beat 18-year-old Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.

In the other evening match, American eighth seed Andy Roddick defeated Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 on the strength of 15 aces.

Russian fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko dispatched Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in a men’s first round match. — AFP