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Jankovic Hangs On, Defeats Arvidsson

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By IRA PODELL

The Associated Press

Published: August 28, 2008

NEW YORK - Jelena Jankovic's leg cramped so badly, she couldn't take another step.

Luckily for the No. 2 seed in the U.S. Open, the agony occurred during her post-match run on the treadmill. Anyone who watched could clearly see she left about everything she had out on the court.

Jankovic outlasted Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5 Wednesday on yet another uncharacteristically mild August day in Flushing Meadows. She planned to take a 10-minute run on the treadmill but lasted only three when pain flared in the area of a knee injury sustained at Wimbledon.

"I couldn't go anymore," Jankovic said. "My leg was straight and I couldn't bend it. The muscle was in spasm and I had a lot of pain."

Treatment with ice and stretching and massaging loosened her leg enough for her to go back to the locker room to take a shower before she spoke to reporters in a much more comfortable setting.

Until then, it was Arvidsson who made her life difficult for three hours.

Jankovic bent over her racket, leaned against a back wall with a towel pressed to her face, and sprawled on her stomach in the middle of center court. Then she gutted her way into the third round.

"That was a really tough one," Jankovic said. "As you can see, I am completely out of breath. She really pushed me to the limit."

Eighth-seeded Andy Roddick won his first match in straight sets. He beat Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

While Jankovic escaped an early exit, No. 8 seed Vera Zvonareva was upended by Tatiana Perebiynis 6-3, 6-3.

In men's first-round play, No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic beat Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Tonight, men's top seed Rafael Nadal faces former Jesuit High star Ryler De Heart.

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