Wimbledon 2008: Jankovic Through After Almighty Scare

Jelena Jankovic recovered from a set down and a knee injury to defeat Caroline Wozniacki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in an enthralling match on Center Court.

Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova have already fallen victim of shock upsets at the All England Club this week and Jankovic looked in danger of following suit after she struggled in the opening stages after straining her knee during the opening game.

She struggled in the first set against the 17-year-old Wozniacki, seeded 31, who showed no nerves as she hit winner after winner to break Jankovic twice in the opening set and - after missing five set points - winning the set 6-2.

An early second-set break was enough for Jankovic, 23, to square the match before the Serb took a medical timeout to have her swollen left knee heavily strapped. Wincing after almost every point, a hobbling Jankovic broke to lead 3-1 and, playing on without the strapping, she limped to victory.

Meanwhile Venus Williams had no such problems as she eased into the last 16 with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Court No1.

The seventh seed raced through the first set in just 25 minutes, helped by some powerful serving, which included aces clocked at 116, 119 and 120mph.

Sanchez, the world No101, made more of a fight of it in the second, but relied on too many drop shots against one of the fastest players on tour, and paid the price.

To Sanchez's credit, she broke back in the eighth game and saved four break points in the next to lead 5-4, but it was merely delaying the inevitable.

Williams broke again to lead 6-5 and served out in some style, finishing off with a 127mph ace to seal a 6-1 7-5 win and book her place in the fourth round.

Elsewhere in the women's third round there were wins for No5 seed Elena Dementieva, who beat Gisela Dulko 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, and Alisa Kleybanova, who beat Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4.

Results

Venus Williams (7) bt Maria Martinez Sanchez 6-1, 7-5Elena Dementieva (5) bt Gisela Dulko 7-6(2), 7-5Alisa Kleybanova bt Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4Tamarine Tanasugarn bt Marina Erakovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4