CAN SHVEDOVA EXTEND HER CINDERELLA RUN IN PARIS AT THE EXPENSE OF JANKOVIC

Serbian diva Jelena Jankovic has advanced a tenacious bid in Paris and reaches the quarterfinal in less than scintillating fashion. She now stands two victories away from a premier position in the finale.
Should Jankovic reach the French Open final, it would be only the second time in her career to threaten for a major title – in 2008, she finished runner-up to Serena Williams at the US Open.
To take a step closer to the final, Jankovic has to overcome an unheralded Yaroslava Shvedova in the women’s singles quarterfinal on Thursday, scheduled to start at 13:05 UK Time.
Shvedova has coasted under the radar, sneaking up on the field from out of nowhere to reach the quarters. Truth be told, she had a sweetheart of a draw with the highest ranked threat in her section eighth seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who isn’t the most intimidating player and definitely beatable, so she proved.
Beating Radwanska is one thing; beating Jankovic is another. Should Shvedova back up her run in Paris with a win over Jankovic it would be something.
William Hill is taking action on this interesting clash and if their prices were an indication then Jankovic is as good as through to the semis. Jankovic is trading at a favourable 1/6 price while Shvedova is a risky 7/2 bet.
But is Shvedova really such a long shot bet. Last year, she upstaged Jankovic at the US Open, taking out the Serbian starlet in the second round, 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(6). Having not only upset Jankovic but also done it on a major stage, Shvedova has to fancy her chances of accomplishing the feat once again.
Lifetime, Shvedova trails 1-2 against Jankovic; but their mark on 2009 is more representative methinks, which stands at 1-1.
All things considered this match is not as straightforward as the bookies indicate. Jankovic, huddled in top-five shroud, understandably is the popular play on paper. But she isn’t indomitable. She tends to underestimate opponents on occasion, which costs her dearly – losing to Shvedova at the US Open last year is proof-positive.
I don’t imagine she will be underestimating her this time around but at the same time, I would maintain Shvedova is a much better, more confident player, than she was then. There is no reason to believe Shvedova can’t pull off the stunner.