Jelena Jankovic lost so many matches in a row this year, she lost count. But she'd taken enough stats classes in college to figure this: It was probably time to quit tennis and go back to school in Belgrade.
On Tuesday, Jankovic graduated _ to her first Grand Slam semifinal, that is _ by taking away No. 4 Elena Dementieva's serve and coasting 6-2, 6-1 at the U.S. Open.
``I cannot believe that I won in two sets,'' Jankovic said. ``What was the score? I don't even know the total score.''
Shortly after she finished, rain began and the other daytime singles matches were postponed until Wednesday. Seventh-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko led No. 17 Andy Murray of Britian 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; 2000 U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia led Germany's Tommy Haas 2-1; and No. 5 James Blake of the U.S. had not started against Tomas Berdych.
The night matches _ No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland versus Marc Gicquel, and No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium versus No. 10 Lindsay Davenport of the U.S. _ stayed on the schedule, although the forecast was not encouraging.
Steady drizzle did not dampen Jankovic's day. The 19th-seeded Serbian became the first player to reach this year's semifinals at Flushing Meadows, and will face the Davenport-Henin-Hardenne winner.
The 21-year-old Jankovic posted the biggest victory of her career, winning every game when Dementieva served.
Earlier this year, Jankovic wasn't winning anything. She lost in the second round of the Australian Open, then dropped her opening match at the next nine events _ 10 consecutive defeats in all.
``Ten losses in a row, nine losses _ how many, I don't know,'' she said. ``It was terrible. I don't know what was wrong with me. I didn't have the will to practise, didn't want to play.''
``It was something that I never felt before, and I almost quit playing tennis,'' Jankovic said. ``I just wanted to go and study.''
Then she got a visit from her mom at a tournament in Rome. Immediately, Jankovic began to play better.
``She would always give me support and tell me I can do it, I have the potential,'' she said. ``Since then, I won like 30-something matches out of 40. It's been amazing.''
Now, those courses in statistics, economics and politics can wait.
``My ambition is to finish university,'' she said. ``I don't want to be a typical tennis player who knows how to hit the forehand and a backhand, that's all. I think this career is quite short. I think there is life after tennis, as well, and I need to look after my future.''
At 24, Dementieva was mulling her future, too.
``It is disappointing. I'm getting older, and I haven't won a Grand Slam, so that's really what I'm thinking about all the time,'' the 2004 Open runner-up said. ``I feel like I was in good shape here. That's why it's sad.''
Dementieva let out a shriek midway through the second set when her shot hit the net tape, popped up and landed on her side. The sound echoed through Arthur Ashe Stadium, and she quietly exited a few games later.
``She didn't give me any chances,'' Dementieva said. ``She was better.''
Jankovic said she's had problems in the past with Dementieva's slow, slicing serves. It was hard to tell this time, though.
``It has some slice on the ball and it's a lot slower than all the other players,'' Jankovic said. ``But now I got used to it somehow.''
Dementieva has frequently struggled with her serve. She had so much trouble while losing the 2004 Open final to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova that she served almost everything sidearm, drawing laughs from the crowd.
``You wouldn't believe how many people gave me ideas on what I should do. It was crazy,'' Dementieva said earlier in the tournament. ``I knew it was just mental. But then I thought everyone can serve. I can do it, too.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007
