Justine Henin - Getty Images

Top Seeds Make Grand Entrance at Rogers Cup

August 15, 2007 - World No. 1 Justine Henin of Belgium and third-ranked Serbian Jelena Jankovic began their bid for the coveted Rogers Cup crystal racquet with convincing victories on Wednesday at Toronto’s Rexall Centre.

Kicking off the evening session, Henin made quick work of Slovenian qualifier Andreja Klepac 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the Round of 16. The 25-year old’s powerful ground strokes and pinpoint accuracy were just too much for her young opponent as the six-time Grand Slam champion displayed her full repertoire of skills. Henin will take on China’s Shuai Peng on Thursday afternoon. Peng upset fourteenth-seeded Katarina Srebotnik in the second round to earn the right to play the world’s best player.

“It’s my first tournament back after Wimbledon, so it takes a few games, maybe a few days to really come in the good rhythm,” Henin analyzed after her match. “I just kept very focused and kept working hard on every point.  And finally won in two sets, so that's the most important thing.”

In the night cap, Jankovic, seeded second, proved that she would be a force to be reckoned with this week in Toronto as the 22-year out classed Marie-Eve Pelletier of Repentigny, Quebec 6-0, 6-1. Jankovic will once again be under the lights on Thursday when she battles thirteenth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria, who defeated Blainville, Quebec’s Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-2 on Grandstand court.

Meanwhile, China’s pulled off the upset of the tournament thus far, disposing of fourth-seeded and defending champion Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. Italy’s Francesca Schiavone joined the upset parade taking down eighth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia in an entertaining three-set affair 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2. Schiavone will next play twelfth-seeded Tatiana Golovin in what promises to be a compelling encounter.

Other seeds advancing in Wednesday’s action include ninth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina, tenth-ranked Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and sixth-seeded Nadia Petrova, who upended Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Quebec 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1.

All players remaining in the singles draw will be back in action on Thursday in what promises to be an exciting day of tennis at the Rexall Centre. 

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