Beijing Day 5: Serbian failures

Singles - Third Round
(3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 26 61 64
(9) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 63 76(2)
Romina Oprandi (SUI) d. (11) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 64 63
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 75 64

Singles - Second Round
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 62 62
(Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 76(5) 36 76(3)

Romina Oprandi (SUI) d. (11) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 64 63

I thought Ana Ivanovic is back on track with her brilliant fightback against Lepchenko but I was so wrong. She was indeed troubled by Oprandi's junk balls and made no adjustments to these weird spinning balls. I doubted Romina as she often opted to play in challengers instead of main tour events. However, she proved that she deserves to be playing in the main tour events this time, reaching her first premier quarter-final since 2006 Rome. She will face most probably Azarenka next, and Victoria will be sure to give Romina a good workout.

Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 75 64

Another Serbian fails against an unfavoured opponent as Jelena Jankovic falls against Carla Suarez Navarro. Carla is primarily a clay courter with sporadic good hard court results, so it's a surprise to see her take out 2 good opponents in a row. However, Carla's win had a lot to do with her opponents sorry state of play. Kvitova couldn't keep a ball in court while Jelena cannot hold serve to save her life. Jelena wastes a chance to contest in a Premier quarter-final since earlier this year in Dubai. She needs to take a long break and access what is wrong with her game. Her continual downward spiral is just sad and mind-boggling.

(Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 76(5) 36 76(3)

Oh wow... Makarova led 5-1 in the 3rd set but choked so badly from then on. She loses to Polona Hercog, who rarely wins on hardcourts. This match is a lesson to all that no matter how lousy you think your opponent is, never assume you are going to win when you are 5-1 up. Polona fans must be elated as she seldom wins matches on any other surface other than clay. While Makarova will definitely be fuming mad at this wasted opportunity.