Tennis:Serena Williams failed to make it to the final of the Italian Open after Jelena Jankovic saved two match points to win through on a third set tie-break in Rome.
Both players had a mixed match, producing a total of nine aces but also 17 double faults between them, but it was the Serb who prevailed to win 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7/5).
The world number one was not as effective as her opponent on her serve but it appeared to be normal service as she took a one-set lead.
Jankovic hit back to level but Williams was on the brink of progressing when she had two match points in the third set, which were saved by the world number seven.
Jankovic then forced a tie-break in which Williams took a 5-2 lead — but Jankovic won five consecutive points to move into the final in a match which lasted two hours 47 minutes.
However, there was no such drama in the other semi-final as Ana Ivanovic’s resurgent run came to an end at the hands of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.
The 22-year-old was world number one less than two years ago but has slipped to 58 without a victory over any top-10 players since 2008.
However, she rediscovered her form at the Foro Italico this week and reached the last four with victories over the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova.
There seemed a real possibility the Serb would make it through but she went out 6-4 6-2 in a little over an hour and 10 minutes.