by Richard Pagliaro, Tennis Week, Special to FOXSports.com

Updated: August 27, 2008, 9:44 PM EST Comment

add this RSS blog email Print

Chasing a drop shot from Sofia Arvidsson that snaked over the net after a near 30-stroke rally in the eighth game of the third set today, Jankovic slid into a split in a failed effort to prolong the point then plopped down on her stomach and spent about 25 seconds staring into the blue court to take a break from a physical match.

It had seemed a straight-forward affair for Jankovic until the second-ranked Serbian — who lost the No. 1 ranking to compatriot Ana Ivanovic the week before the Open but retains her unofficial title as WTA Tour's reigning drama queen — found a way to complicate matters as only Jankovic can.

Failing to serve out the match twice in the second set, Jankovic squandered a 4-2 third-set before peeling herself off the court and making a stand to deny the 24-year-old Swede's second-straight upset bid with a 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5 win that spanned two hours, 44 minutes and seemed to squeeze every ounce of energy out of her.

Then again, with Jankovic you never know if she's truly physically fatigued, more mentally drained or simply posturing to plant a seed of false security in opponents' minds. Sometimes it's unclear if Jankovic herself knows her true state of mind, but there was no mistaking her sense of relief after surviving yet another scare from Arvidsson.

"Last time I played against her (in March) she was up 5-1 in the third, but I managed to come back," Jankovic said. "I made the finals in Miami so I don't mind it. I hope she brings me good luck again."

Arvidsson delivered a sustained dose of annoyance through her deep crosscourt drives, but Jankovic contributed to her own issues. She spent time tugging at her knee and feet as if pained by leg injuries and at various times clung to the blue back wall as if it was the leader of a support group.

Asked if Jankovic's antics are an attempt to pump herself up or psych her opponents out, Arvidsson stopped short of accusing Jankovic of outright gamesmanship, but pointed out the Serbian's propensity for promoting aches and pains both real and imagined.

"I know how she is — she likes the drama," Arvidsson said. "She's a funny girl to watch. It's not like I don't like her, but if you know it before it's okay I guess. ... It's just the way she is — she takes a long time between balls when I am going to serve, but when she serves it's really fast."

One of the smoothest movers on court, Jankovic said fatigue prompted her fall to the court.

"I was just tired and I couldn't get up," Jankovic said. "I was so exhausted at that moment. I was breathing hard and I didn't have the energy to get up."

Lying prone for nearly 30 seconds, Jankovic survived her "I've fallen and I can't get up" moment and arose to continue the match. Bending over behind the baseline at various points during the match, Jankovic looked like a woman struggling to finish the job, but Arvidsson said she's seen that script played out before.

"I always know with her she's always complaining about something then she's running so good any way so I knew she would start to complain when she's down," Arvidsson said. "I mean she was running a lot so she must have been tired."

Serving at 5-6, Arvidsson had a game point to force a tiebreaker, but Jankovic used her superior speed to lure the Swede into a forehand down the line. Leaving the entire court exposed Arvidsson paid the price when Jankovic hit a backhand winner to draw even at deuce. When Arvidsson's forehand found the top of the tape, Jankovic had match point. She ended a draining duel when an Arvidsson backhand floated long.

Jankovic has a favorable draw, but figures to be severely tested in the third round by Wimbledon semifinalist Jie Zheng, who knocked off Ivanovic at Wimbledon.

In the end, Jankovic has to realize on some level she's playing too passively. In tennis, there's no running out the clock, and Jankovic will need to assert her game against top players in major matches — and improve her serve — before she can make her major breakthrough.