(June 1, 2013) -- For one, it was the biggest win of her young career. For the other, a much needed first step back to her former glory. Now
Jamie Hampton and
Jelena Jankovic will face off against each other for a spot into the elite eight of Roland Garros next week.
Hampton once again proved that she is a star on the rise as she defeated former Wimbledon champion
Petra Kvitova in their third round encounter. The 23-year-old American who earlier knocked out Kvitova's Fed Cup teammate
Lucie Safarova took advantage of poor serving from Kvitova in the first set. Hampton ran away with it 6-1 and looked confident she could yet again pull off another upset.
Kvitova fought back though and eventually forced a tiebreak in the second set. But Hampton matched the heavy hitting from Kvitova and soon found herself with two match points. Kvitova saved one with a drop shot winner and then the other when Hampton netted. The American didn't blink though and soon had yet another match point when Kvitova sent a backhand just wide.
Hampton converted this time when Kvitova committed yet another error on her backhand to give the American the 6-1, 7-6(7) victory.
With her advancement into the fourth round, Hampton now joins fellow Americans
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Sloane Stephens and
Serena Williams who are already there. This marks the most American women into the round of 16 at the French Open since 2004.
Jankovic Holds Off Stosur to Reach Last 16.
The third round meeting between No. 9 seed
Sam Stosur and No. 18 seed
Jelena Jankovic was billed by many as the match of the day. And it didn't disappoint despite several momentum changes.
Helped by the bright sunshine and drier conditions, it was Stosur who looked more at ease early on in the match unlike Jankovic who often appeared unhappy with her play. The Australian earned a late break of serve and then closed out the first set 6-3.
But Jankovic settled in and soon it was Stosur who couldn't find the range on her groundstrokes. Two netted forehands from Stosur gave Jankovic an early 2-0 lead and she kept hold of that advantage with help from 16 unforced errors from Stosur in the set.
Jankovic broke the Aussie again to seize the second set and force a decider. The former No. 1 then jumped out to a 3-0 lead with some big serving when she needed it.
Stosur though didn't back down and made her own comeback to 3-all with a smash winner. Now it was Jankovic who started to look frustrated again while Stosur showed belief she could do it when she held for 4-3.
But errors creptinto Stosur's game at the wrong time. Jankovic stepped up and smacked a down the line backhand winner to break for 5-4. The next game saw Stosur save three match points with some clutch play, but it was Jankovic on her fourth match point who bombed in a final ace to seal the 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.
Hampton will now seek her first ever Major quarterfinal while Jankovic will look for her first trip to the elite eight since Roland Garros 2010.