Jankovic out of Top 20 for the first time in six years, loses in the first round of Brussels

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Wilson Blade 9

Jelena Jankovic‘s career has for a long time been in the slump, but this week it has suffered the biggest blow, as the former world number one has for the first time since August 2006 exited the Top 20 in the WTA rankings and put the cherry on the cake by losing the Brussels opener to Simona Halep for her fourth first-round exit in four clay court events and seventh loss of the opener this season.

After falling in the first rounds of Stuttgart (retirement against Wozniacki), Madrid (4-6 7-6(5) 6-4 loss to Carla Suarez Navarro) and Rome (6-3 4-6 7-6(4) loss to Sorana Cirstea), Jankovic battled Halep for two hours and 54 minutes, had three match points in the third set, but lost nevertheless, 6-2 3-6 7-6(3).

Jankovic is now heading to Roland Garros without matches won on clay, besides in the April’s Fed Cup. Last year, Jankovic reached the fourth round of Roland Garros, while in 2007, 2008 and 2010 she was the semifinalist. (photo courtesy of Francesca Moscatelli)

4 COMMENTS

  1. What the heck is going on with JJ?She was so consistent and one of the best player out there,and now she is losing?!Please Jelena,come back to your old form,we miss you 🙁

  2. I remember when I thought JJ would challenge Serena at the top. She has all the skills, athleticism. Must be going through something personal. Hope she gets over it before her career is over.

  3. She should hurry up then as she is 27 now. Or could it be injury? It’s a shame as Roland Garros is on clay and she normally does so well on this surface :0(

  4. I think there are many things contributing to JJ’s bad results… I’d take lack of motivation as no.1 problem. How is it possible that she wins easily her Fed cup matches, and then can’t win against average players? Then, she is 27 now, she obviously can’t play her game as good as when she was younger. It’s a shame, years are passing and she isn’t doing much to change something.

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