The 23-year-old Jankovic has reached two semi-finals in Grand Slams this year (French Open and Australian Open) but has never made it to a final in 20 career major appearances.
Jankovic has six career singles titles but just one victory to show for her consistent play this year. The pesky Swede Arvidsson made Jankovic work for Wednesday’s win.
“It was really tough. I am completely out of breath,” second-seeded Jankovic said immediately after the two-hour, 45-minute match. “I was pushed to the limit.”
Jankovic moves through to the third round where she will face China’s Zheng Jie who beat Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-1, 6-4. Zheng reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Jankovic, who has suffered a string of injuries this year, took a couple of tumbles on Wednesday but got through the match unscathed.
Five Russians, including four seeded players, advanced on Wednesday while Vera Zvonareva became the first seeded Russian casualty.
Beijing Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva beat Pauline Parmentier of France 6-2, 6-1. Dementieva, the runner-up in 2004, is making her 10th straight US Open appearance.
“You have to find a way to win,” Dementieva said. “The most important thing is to stay positive in the difficult moments in the match even when you feel tired.”
Dementieva, who is ranked sixth in the world, moved through to the third round where she will face Great Britain’s Anne Keothavong.
Third-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.
“It was all about the first set,” Russia’s Kuznetsova said. “When I got into a dangerous situation I started moving her around a little bit more. In the second set I was able to gain more confidence.”
Another Russian Olympian Zvonareva was sent crashing out of the event, losing her second round match 6-3, 6-3 to unseeded Tatiana Perebiynis.
Zvonareva was in the same side of the draw as Jankovic and Lindsay Davenport who beat another Russian Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 6-3 in a night match.
In the other evening match, American eighth seed Andy Roddick defeated Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko dispatched Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in another men’s first round match.
Also See: US OPEN 2008: Keothavong flies flag for British women
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