Jankovic loses third-rounder in Dubai

Third-seeded Jelena Jankovic was ousted Wednesday in third-round action at the $2 million Dubai Tennis Championships.

Jankovic dropped serve five times in 10 service games in falling 6-2. 7-5 to 16th-seeded Kaia Kanepi. Jankovic won just more than half of the points when she was serving, a trend that cost the match.

Top-seeded Serena Williams was an easy third-round winner Wednesday, dominating 6-4, 6-2 over Zheng Jie while her sister Venus, who is seeded sixth, advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Alize Cornet.

Fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva, who will play Venus Williams in Thursday’s quarterfinals, was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Anabel Medina Garrigues Wednesday. Serena Williams will go against Ana Ivanovic, who defeated Camille Pin, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Fifth-seeded Vera Zvonareva advanced when Marion Bartoli retired in the first set while, in a second upset Wednesday, Elena Vesnina beat 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, 4-5, 6-1, 4-0, when Cibulkova retired in the third set.

Also, Virginia Razzano topped Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.