LOS ANGELES: Serbia's Jelena Jankovic moved closer to grabbing the world No 1 ranking from compatriot Ana Ivanovic on Thursday by beating Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-3, 6-2 at a $600,000 WTA tournament.
Jankovic reached the Friday quarterfinals of the hardcourt event, where she will face Russia's Nadia Petrova, who eliminated fifth-seeded compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5 in another third-round match on Thursday.
Should Jankovic win Sunday's final and grab the $95,500 top prize, she will overtake idle Ivanovic, last year's winner here, and reach the world No 1 ranking for the first time in her career.
But Jankovic, a 23-year-old who has yet to reach a Grand Slam final, is still recovering from a left knee injury suffered at Wimbledon.
"There's a lot to go, but I will try my best," Jankovic said. "A win is a win and hopefully I will keep getting better during the week."
The biggest upset of the tournament came when Austrian Sybille Bammer outlasted Russian third seed Anna Chakvetadze 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Bammer will next face Italy's Flavia Pennetta, who defeated Japan's Ai Sugiyama 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Chakvetadze won 12 matches in a row after Wimbledon last year, including titles at Cincinnati and Stanford and was the top seed in her half of the draw after second seed Serena Williams withdrew with a knee injury.
Russian fourth seed Dinara Safina saved a match point in the 10th game of the final set with her seventh ace of the match and ousted compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva 7-6 (7/1), 0-6, 7-6 (7/3).
Safina will next face eighth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who defeated Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
China's Yuan Meng advanced to the final eight by defeating British lucky loser Melanie South 6-2, 6-3.
Yuan will face US wild card Bethanie Mattek, who defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 7-5, 6-2, for a spot in a semifinal opposite Bammer or Pennetta.
Source:China Daily/AFP
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