Rodina surprises with victory over Jankovic in Rosmalen

Evgeniya Rodina has surprised everyone  at the Ricoh Open. The global No. 120 defeated second seed and former finalist Jelena Jankovic (WTA-24) in three sets, 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-4. The latter had been leading their head to head encounters, 3-0.

After Jankovic had to overcome ????break chances in her first two service games, Rodina took the lead at 2-2 when her opponent missed a forehand. But the Russian could not enjoy her advantage for very long as Jankovic broke back on love.

Both women often went for low winners along the line and kept apace with each other to reach a tiebreak. At 2-2 Rodina missed two forehands  and then mishit a backhand, after which Jankovic served out for the set from 5-2 with two strong second services.

Rodina did not make any unnecessary faults in the second set and Jankovic seemed to have difficulty moving. At 5-5 in the opening set the Serbian had fallen and took some time to get up.

The former world number one had no say in the second set and the women had to play a decisive third set.

They progressed evenly until 3-3. Jankovic had three chances to make it 4-3 on her own service, but was broken after a missed backhand. At 5-4 Rodina made the surprise complete by serving out the match on her third match point after Jankovic sent a forehand down the doubles alley.

To reach the semi-final Rodina has to beat the American player CoCo Vandeweghe (WTA-43), the sixth seed and 2014 winner.