Indian Wells, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Former world No. 1 and former
champion Jelena Jankovic was an easy quarterfinal winner Thursday at the
$5.3 million BNP Paribas Open.
The 18th-seeded Serb was flattening Lesia Tsurenko, 6-1, 4-1, when the
Ukrainian retired on Day 9 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The 30-year-old Jankovic, who titled here in 2010, now awaits the winner
between 15th-seeded reigning Indian Wells champ Flavia Pennetta and 24th-
seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki.
Friday’s other semifinal will pit world No. 1 and two-time Indian Wells
champion Serena Williams against third-seeded 2014 French Open runner-up
Simona Halep.
Pennetta upset Agnieszka Radwanska in last year’s final in the California
desert.
The 33-year-old American great Williams, playing here for the first time in
14 years, was the Indian Wells champ back in 1999 and 2001.
