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Jankovic defeats Venus Williams

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia hits a return during her 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) semi-final victory over Venus Williams during the Family Circle Cup at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Saturday in Charleston, South Carolina. PHOTO: AFP

Jelena Jankovic advanced to the final of the Family Circle Cup, winning a marathon match against Venus Williams on Saturday for her second straight win against the US player, who is coming back from a wrist injury.

Jankovic, who claimed a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory, also beat Williams last year on the grass at Wimbledon.

She'll meet fourth-seeded Dinara Safina, who advanced when fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva, who also had a wrist injury, retired during the other semifinal.

Jankovic and Williams contested every point for just more than two-and-a-half hours on the green clay at Daniel Island, South Carolina. In the end, the only thing that separated them was the last two points of the third-set tiebreaker.

They match was tied 5-5 when Williams hit a forehand long, putting Jankovic up by one.

On the next point, Jankovic sent a shot past Williams along the sideline. She started to celebrate, but Williams reacted as though it was out.

The umpire checked the spot, determined it was in and Jankovic raised her hands in triumph.

"She kind of like was going to shake my hand and then she was in doubt," Jankovic said. "So I was really lucky on that one to win. It was great."

Williams, who had 13 double faults, won the Family Circle Cup three years ago but Jankovic will make her first appearance in the final. Her performance will move her up to No. 7 in the next world rankings, the highest ever for the 22-year-old from Serbia.

Both Safina, ranked No. 12 in the world, and Zvonareva, ranked No. 20, said on Friday they had nagging wrist injuries.

Both retired from their doubles matches on Friday so they could concentrate on the singles.

Safina was leading 6-3, 0-1 when Zvonareva, whose wrist had been bothering her all week, retired.

Zvonareva said it hurt from the beginning of the match.

"It just got really bad to the point I wasn't able to perform very well," she said.

Safina said her wrist was much better.

It was the second match in a row Safina's opponent has retired. Tatiana Golovin of France retired from their Friday evening match at the end of the first set with an injured ankle.

But Safina said the two previous short matches would be no advantage facing Jankovic.

"She's a solid player, so it's going to be a tough match," Safina said. "We both have to go out there and fight and the stronger one is going to go through."
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