Serena Williams Crashes Out of the Australian Open 2008

Serena Williams Crashes Out of the Australian Open 2008

Defending champion Serena Williams was ousted by Jelena Jankovic at the Australian Open before losing her doubles match. Williams, who beat Sharapova in last year's final, lost 6-3, 6-4 to Jankovic, then teamed with sister Venus to lose their doubles match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Yan Zi and Zheng Jie of China.

Williams, who looked sluggish and lethargic throughout, was the quicker off the mark and broke to love in the second game to send out ominous signs that last year's straight sets defeat could be repeated.

But Jankovic responded in kind and broke back immediately before holding to level at two games apiece. She then broke for a third straight game when Williams dumped an attempted cross-court forehand into the net.

Williams had opportunities to get back into the match in both the sixth and eighth games but she failed to take advantage by thumping uncharacteristic errors from both sides, although mostly on her backhand and that was her major reason for the loss.

The American also appeared unable to stretch up to her serve properly, with her first serve tamely bouncing over the net at under 100 mph on numerous occasions in the first set and early in the second.

Jankovic, however, was striking her backhand cleanly and made good use of her favoured shot down the line as Williams struggled to manoeuvre around the court.

The Serb sealed the first set when Williams dumped a routine forehand volley into the net.

Jankovic opened the second set with a love service game before breaking with a cross-court forehand winner to open a 2-0 lead.

But again Williams struck back, breaking immediately with a backhand winner from the ad side of the court quickly followed by a forehand winner from the same area.

Williams received a warning for racket abuse after dropping serve again, but managed to break back for a second time as both women seemed to tighten up.

A lengthy injury break for both players following the break - Jankovic for the thigh and Williams for a blister on her toe - seemed to revitalise the duo as they produced the two longest games of the match, both going to serve.

But Jankovic struck in the eighth game, earning two break points before drilling her backhand down the line and comfortably putting away the resulting forehand close to the net.

The Serb had a chance to serve out the match at 5-3 up but failed to win a tense game that saw Williams take advantage of her nerves to blast winners from both sides of the court.

But, after racing to 40-15 on her serve, Williams was unable to maintain the pressure and Jankovic sealed the match on her first attempt when the American pushed an attempted cross-court forehand wide after a long rally.

Jelena Jankovic said: "It was an unbelievable match and I'm still shaking. I'm really happy to be in the semis for the first time in Australia. Defeating a defending champion and a champion like Serena is something that doesn't happen every day. But here it is very special, because last year actually in this tournament in the fourth round I lost to her. Now, getting revenge it feels so good."

Serena Williams said: "I think that I went crazy, maybe, and I made a lot of mistakes. I didn't really play the game I wanted to play. I was having some issues, but I don't like to make excuses... Definitely a problem all through the day, but nothing life-threatening, so it's fine... My shots were spraying and everything like that but definitely Jelena played some great tennis and deserved it. I felt I was gonna do better than this but I guess I was wrong... can't always be right."