Jankovic crashes out of Indian Wells
Jelena Jankovic. AP
INDIAN WELLS — Former winner Jelena Jankovic became the first seed to crash out of the Indian Wells tournament on Friday, losing in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to world No. 99 Jamie Hampton Friday.
The 12th seeded Jankovic blamed her second round loss on fatigue, especially being jet lagged after flying all the way from Southeast Asia and arriving in the California desert on Monday night.
“Today I was a shadow of myself,” Jankovic said. “I didn’t feel like I did anything right.”
Jankovic, who won the Indian Wells title two years ago, reached the semi-finals at the Kuala Lumpur tournament last week before heading to the United States.
“I am feeling jet lagged and have some allergies here and there,” she said. “I went on court and I expected much more from myself, but it didn’t happen.”
The 22-year-old Hampton fired three aces, including one in the final game of the match to go ahead, 30-0. She clinched the win when Jankovic pushed a forehand wide, ending the 89-minute match on center court.
Jankovic survived two match points but couldn’t overcome a 40-0 deficit in the final game, bowing out on the third match point. She posted two double faults and won just 46 percent of her first-serve points.
“My legs felt tired and swollen,” Jankovic said. “Give credit to Hampton she played solid and did what she had to do.”
Hampton said it was the best she has ever played in a high-pressure event and in front of a large crowd.
“There are definitely matches where I’ve played better but I don’t think I’ve ever played that well under pressure,” Hampton said. “You know, my opponent and the stadium, everything, my environment. I definitely played the best under pressure.”
Hampton said she was nervous going in and almost got sick under the stands as she made her way to the main stadium.
“I could possibly vomit. When I was in the tunnel I was like, ‘Well, you better get it together now before everybody else sees your breakfast,'” Hampton said.
In other early second round matches on Friday, 14th seeded Julia Goerges of Germany beat Elena Baltacha of Britain 6-3, 6-2 and American Christina McHale defeated Russia’s Elena Vesnina 6-3, 7-5.
On the men’s side, Germany’s Tommy Haas won his first round match over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 7-6 (11/9), 6-4 and Marcos Baghdatis beat Jeremy Chardy of France 6-3, 6-4.
