Tenacious Italian Francesca Schiavone has produced a spirited fight-back to overcome Jelena Jankovic and progress to the semi-finals at the Brisbane International.
World number 11 Schiavone was forced to come from behind in every set and also saved two match points in the second to eventually prevail 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in a captivating quarter-final on Pat Rafter Arena.
For former world number one Jankovic, who slid down to 14th in the rankings last year, it was a heartbreaking loss after failing to close out the gripping encounter.
The Serbian sixth seed could not convert two match points at 15-40 in the 12th game of the second set after failing to serve out the match at 5-3.
Third-seeded Schiavone also fought back from 3-1 down in the final set before breaking the spirit of Jankovic with a five-game run.
Troubled on her serve throughout - managing just 39 per cent of first serves - she wasted two match points of her own before finally winning in two hours and 55 minutes.
The 2010 French Open champion will play the winner of Thursday afternoon's quarter-final between German second seed Andrea Petkovic and Estonian surprise-packet Kaia Kanepi in the semi-finals.
AAP
Tags: sport, tennis, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted January 05, 2012 15:32:19
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