LOS ANGELES: Dinara Safina shattered Jelena Jankovic's chances of securing the women's No 1 ranking on Monday with a comprehensive 7-6, 6-1 victory in the semifinals of the Los Angeles Classic on Saturday.

Safina will meet Italy's Flavia Pennetta, who overcame blisters, scorching heat and fervent hometown support to beat American Bethanie Mattek 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the final.

Jankovic needed to win the tournament to grab top ranking from fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic, but after losing the first set in a tiebreak was blown off the court in the second.

The Serb, who entered the tournament with a torn meniscus in her left knee, was philosophical about missing her opportunity.

"Hopefully my time will come, it's not the end of the world, Jankovic said. "I had an injury and was supposed to be out quite a long time and at least I had an opportunity to compete here, even though I wasn't at my best."

Safina, who lost the French Open final to Ivanovic, overpowered Jankovic with a huge service game and more than matched her opponent's athletic scrambling around the court.

The Russian failed to serve out the first set at 5-4, but then capitalized on a series of Jankovic forehand errors in the tiebreak to take it 7-3.

Jankovic's form then completely deserted her in the second set and Safina ran out an easy winner.

Source :China Daily/Agencies