Jelena Jankovic took on Kristina Mladenovic in their first ever meeting in the first round at the China Open. The 2008 champion was put under all sorts of pressure in the first set as the Frenchwoman grabbed the lead. Mladenovic then carved out a 3-0 lead in the second set but Jankovic showed her fighting spirit to eventually force a decider. The third set was a topsy-turvy affair and it was settled in a tiebreak which Mladenovic edged 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(4).
Mladenovic attacks second serve to take the lead
After a comfortable couple of decent holds, Mladenovic started putting pressure on the Jankovic serve. A decent drop shot gave her her first chance but the Serbian responded with a blistering forehand down the line winner. Jankovic struggled to close the game and the Frenchwoman got another chance after passing the Serbian at the net. The pressure eventually got to Jankovic who sent an unfortunate double fault to hand Mladenovic the break and a 2-1 lead.
However, that work put in to get the break was wiped out in a flash as double faults and a poor service game gave the break right back to Jankovic. That only seemed to fire up the Frenchwoman who turned aggressive conjuring up double break points immediately. The Serbian coming up with some great defensive work to see off both the points but with the Mladenovic pouncing on second serves, the Frenchwoman once again won the game to edge 3-2. She was in danger of giving the break again going down 0-30 but Mladenovic remained composed winning the next four points to consolidate the break.
With the next few games going the way of the server, Jankovic was soon serving to stay in the set at 5-3. The Serbian had game points but Mladenovic fought back forcing her to deuce before setting up match point. Jankovic was equal to it but the Frenchwoman kept pushing and came up with a delicious slice winner to set up her second match point. This time the Serbian could only send her shot into the net as Mladenovic wrapped up the first set.
Mladenovic loses her grip on the match as Jankovic fights back
The Frenchwoman picked up where she left off, pouncing on Jankovic’s second serves to great effect to earn an early break and raced off to a 3-0 lead in the second set. The Serbian eventually held serve and started to make inroads on Mladenovic’s serve. The Frenchwoman faltered sending a double and a subsequent shot into the net allowed Jankovic to get right back into the set for 2-3.
Mladenovic put that game behind her quick and had an opportunity to break once more. Jankovic, however, came up with her trademark backhand to snuff out the chance and after being pushed to deuce a couple more times, the Serbian finally close it out to level 3-3. The Serbian riding the momentum won her fourth game in a row with a brilliant defense at the net to lead for the first time in the set.
The Frenchwoman was not going down without a fight, with a superb pass earning herself a couple of break points. Jankovic fended off both the chances and hung on to her serve extend her lead to 5-3. Mladenovic eventually stopped the rot to hold her serve and force the Serbian to serve it out. However, serving for the set, the Serbian faltered allowing Mladenovic to break back and level for 5-5.
The match became a topsy-turvy event as Mladenovic failed to hold giving Jankovic another chance to serve it out. This time the Serbian held her nerves and sealed the set to force a decider.
Both struggle to hold serve before Mladenovic seals it in a tiebreak
The Serbian began the third set in the best possible way but then was broken right back with an unfortunate double fault. As Mladenovic held serve for 2-1, the Frenchwoman then stepped it up and found the breakthrough to go 3-1. Both though struggled to hold though as two successive breaks gave Mladenovic a 4-2 lead. The Frenchwoman was fired up and managed to hold serve to extend her advantage.
Mladenovic had the match on her racket but could not serve it out as Jankovic broke back to 4-5 in the decider. The Serbian gave her all in a must-win game to draw 5-5. In a clutch game, the Frenchwoman saved break points for a clutch hold. Jankovic meanwhile had no trouble whatsoever holding serve in quick fashion to force a tiebreak.
Mladenovic got the first mini-break but lost both her serves. However, Jankovic could not hold her serves either and the Frenchwoman built up a 6-3 lead with a sumptuous backhand. The Serbian fighting saved the first of match points with a delightful backhand winner. However, the 2008 champion could not repeat it again as the Frenchwoman finished strong to seal the victory after two hours and 44 minutes.