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Third Round in the Books at Rogers Cup

August 16, 2007 - Top-seeded Justine Henin and second-ranked Jelena Jankovic once again stole the show at the Rogers Cup presented by American Express on Thursday.

Battling swirling winds, Henin defeated China’s Shuai Peng 7-5, 6-2 in a hard fought match that brought out the best in the World No. 1. “It was tough out there, I can tell you, Henin admitted after the match. “It's hard because it's tough to say where the wind comes from, and it's turning a lot in the stadium.  But it's the same for both players, and you just have to be patient, stay very calm and be focused on every ball.”

The 25-year old Belgian will face sixth-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia under the lights on Friday in what promises to be an entertaining quarter-final match up. Petrova disposed of tenth-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-1 in her third round encounter.

Meanwhile, second-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic made quick work of Austrian ‘mom’ Sybille Bammer 6-2, 6-3 setting off a few fireworks in the first match of Thursday’s evening session in front of a vocal crowd at Rexall Centre.

“You don't want to play a night match when there are few people watching, that's no fun,” Jankovic commented. “And when you have a lot of supporters, of course, on your side it's always great, so I really appreciate that.”

The Serbian sensation will next battle Virginie Razzano of France who took care of Israel’s Shahar Peer, seeded eleventh, 6-4, 6-3 after being down a break in the opening set. Razzano also upset fifth-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the second round.

Razzano will be joined in the quarter-finals by fellow countrywomen Tatiana Golovin and Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli. Golovin dismantled Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-0 in the first match of the day on centre court while seventh-seeded Bartoli came out on top against ninth-seed Dinara Safina of Russia 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-0 in an entertaining night cap.

Also joining the quarter-final line up will be the surprise contender of the event in Zi Yan of China, who, one day after dismissing defending champion Ana Ivanovic, came out on top in a three-set thriller that lasted just over three hours against Greece’s Eleni Danilidou 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5).

Action continues at Rexall Centre beginning at 11 a.m. with all four quarter-final contests on the schedule as well as opening rounds of the inaugural College and University Championships and the finals of the U16 Outdoor Nationals.  

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