Serena Williams vs Jelena Jankovic: Quarter Final of Australian Open 2008

Serena Williams powered into the quarter final of Australian Open setting up a rematch of the fourth round 2006 Australian Open match against Jelena Jankovic in the quarter final of Australian Open 2008. Serena Williams roared past the 12^th seed Nicole Vaidisova in the fourth round in a straight-sets victory. Serena did not find enough resistance from Vaidisova in her 6-3 6-4 victory. However, Serena was challenged for some time in the second set. However, Serena Williams’ shots proved too much for her Czech opponent in the match.

Serena Williams is one of those few players who have not dropped any set so far in Australian Open 2008. However, the seventh seed is now happy with her performance saying that she did not have that much rhythm. Terming her movement ‘lazy’, Serena has said that she was not moving the way she wanted.

Herald Sun reported:

"I felt like I didn't have a lot of rhythm out there," Williams said. "I felt lazy, like I wasn't moving the way I wanted to. But overall, I think it boiled down to serves and returns.

"I just want to move better and just make a few less errors.I think (in) my second round I didn't make that many unforced errors, so I want to do that again."

This is where Serena Williams’s inspiration lies. She has been in an imperious form, but still she is not satisfied with it. Jelena Jankovic, in contrast, is now in her great form. It seems that her hard-fought first round victory has taken a heavy toll which she yet to recover. The third seed reached the first quarter final of Australian Open defeating Australia’s last hope Casey Dellacqua in straight sets.

Jelena Jankovic is not yet in her prime form. So, getting her form back should be the main concern of Jankovic ahead of the quarterfinal showdown against Serena Williams. Last year, Serena Williams outclassed the Serbian in straight sets. The record books says that there were four Serena Williams vs Jelena Jankovic matches held in the past in which both of them won two apiece.

Now, when another clash is coming nearer, it is certain that Serena Williams has an edge over the Jelena Jankovic in terms of performance and physical fitness. Though Serena claimed that she is yet to get back her full rhythm and movement, still Serena Williams looks much more confident. So, I think, reaching semi final will not be an easy task for Jelena Jankovic unless she gets her form back and plays her best in the quarter final.