Jankovic wilts in the heat
LONDON (Reuters) - Former world number one Jelena Jankovic, battling in vain to cope with searing heat at Wimbledon, was sent tumbling out of the tournament by American qualifier Melanie Oudin in the third round Saturday.
In the biggest shock of the women's draw so far, the statuesque Serb could not cope with the baking conditions at the All England Club, succumbing 6-7 7-5 6-2 to the overjoyed teen-ager who refused to be overawed by the sixth seed.
It was a huge achievement for Oudin, playing only her third grand slam event. Dogged determination won the day for a player ranked 124 in the world and who had to fight through three rounds of the qualifying tournament just to get to Wimbledon.
The 17-year-old Oudin kept pumping herself up with cries of "Come On" and made light of her relative inexperience.
Jankovic, bidding to the reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for the fourth year in a row, never once looked at ease on a number three court that felt more like Florida than London on a scorchingly hot afternoon with temperatures near 30 Celsius.
The Serb, her first serve constantly deserting her, was fortunate to land the first set. Loudin fought back from 5-3 down, only to lose a thrilling tiebreak 10-8.
Then Jankovic called for a medical timeout at the end of the first set. She was wrapped in icepacks on her neck and legs while a doctor and a physiotherapist checked her condition.
In an equally intriguing second set, Oudin leveled the match with a feisty display of determination. Outplaying Jankovic in many interminable baseline rallies, she took the deciding set comfortably for a shock victory.
Oudin, whose idol is former world number one Justine Henin, whooped with delight and punched the air after landing the spoils on an afternoon of sun-baked drama she will never forget.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
