Jankovic reaches Kremlin Cup finals

Oct 11, 2008 - 1:40 PM MOSCOW (Ticker) -- Jelena Jankovic made sure there would be a new champion at the Kremlin Cup on Saturday.

The top-seeded Serbian stormed back from an atrocious first set to earn a 0-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory against local favorite, No. 3 seed Elena Dementieva at this $1.34 million event.

The victory extended Jankovic's winning streak to 11 matches as she ousted the defending champion Dementieva in 77 minutes. She next will face seventh seed Vera Zvonareva, who defeated second-seeded Dinara Safina, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), in an all-Russian semifinal.

Jankovic, who overtook Serena Williams for the No. 1 ranking on Monday, is seeking her third title in as many events. Any thoughts of claiming the championship at this hardcourt tournament seemed unlikely after the 23-year-old lost each of 12 return points in the first set while winning just five of 20 service points.

But, Jankovic, quickly rebounded, winning six of 11 break points, over the next two sets to earn the victory and advance to her sixth final of the season.

The win was Jankovic's sixth in nine career meetings against Dementieva, who was seeking her fourth trip to the finals in 12 lifetime appearances at her hometown event.

First prize is $196,900.