Venus Williams Knocked Out at French Open By Jelena Jankovic

Jun 01, 10:06 AM

Current Headlines: By CHRIS LEHOURITES

PARIS (AP) - Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic knocked American Venus Williams out of the French Open on Friday, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the third round.

Williams, who reached the final at Roland Garros in 2002 but missed the last two Grand Slam tournaments because of injuries, also lost to Jankovic in the third round at Wimbledon last year.

"I got a little bit tired at the end," Williams said. "It's tough on clay."

In other action, top-ranked Roger Federer beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the fourth round.

The Swiss star, who has won the past three major championships and is seeking a career Grand Slam, saved all three break points he faced against Starace and compiled a 34-14 edge in winners.

The players were tied at 3-3 in the second set before Federer reeled off the final nine games to win in one hour 31 minutes.

Federer moved into the round of 16 at Roland Garros for the third year in a row. He'll now face 2006 U.S. Open semifinalist Mikhail Youzhny, who beat 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero on Friday.

Jankovic, a 22-year-old Serb, dominated the five-time major champion in the first set, winning 20 of the 24 points played in her service games, including the first 10.

"I never had it in my mind that I was going to lose the match," said Jankovic, who won a clay-court warmup tournament in Rome last month to make her one of the favourites heading into the French Open.

The American recovered in the second set, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and holding on by breaking Jankovic in the 10th game to even the match. But Jankovic, who reached the semifinals at the 2006 U.S. Open, broke Williams three times in the third set.

"The third set went a little bit faster than what I expected," Williams said. "I felt a little bit slow . . . I couldn't get my feet where I wanted them."

No. 19 Tathiana Garbin of Italy reached the fourth round by beating Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France 6-3, 6-0.

Igor Andreev of Russia, who upset third-seeded American Andy Roddick in the first round, advanced to the third round by beating Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Other women's matches were also to include Serena Williams versus Michaella Krajicek and Justine Henin versus Mara Santangelo.

Serena Williams is the only American left playing singles in Paris.