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PARIS - The Stars and Stripes still fluttered at Roland Garros on Friday but only one American was left standing in the French Open singles after Serb Jelena Jankovic sent Venus Williams packing.
Jankovic, the form player on the women's tour, probably cringed when she saw Venus on
her horizon as early as the third round, although a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory fully justified her status as fourth seed.
At least eighth seed Serena Williams restored family honour and national pride when ousting Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek 6-3, 6-4 in gathering gloom.
The sun shone for most of the day in the French capital after a drizzly start to the championships and world number one Roger Federer warmed to the task of bagging the only major to elude him with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Italian Potito Starace.
"It came naturally today, especially in the third set when I accelerated," the Swiss told reporters.
"I was playing well, my serve was working well. I'm happy to have won in straight sets," added Federer, who next plays Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
Youzhny, the 13th seed, should prove more of a challenge after his 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 6-2 triumph over 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.
After witnessing Federer's masterclass, fans on Centre Court were royally entertained for 3 1/2 hours by swashbuckling Frenchman Gael Monfils before he succumbed in four punishing sets to David Nalbandian.
Nalbandian is one of three Argentines in the last 16 after wins for Juan Monaco and Guillermo Canas.
It has been a tale of woe for Americans on the Parisian red clay this week as all nine men went out in round one.
The fact 2002 champion Serena is the only woman flying the flag has much to do with Jankovic, although 26th seed Venus hardly helped her cause by spraying 52 unforced errors.
"I just went long, long, long but it's only a matter of time before it goes in, in, in," said the 26-year-old Venus, looking for encouragement before Wimbledon later this month.
Jankovic, 22, another product of the Bolletieri Academy in Florida, has now beaten Williams three times in a row, including Wimbledon last year.
This latest triumph propelled her into the fourth round for the first time and spoke volumes for the confidence instilled by three titles in 2007.
Jankovic considered quitting, disillusioned with her game, last year.
"I stayed tough out there in the third set and I never had in my mind I was going to lose," she said.
"It's a shame Venus had to go out so early, it was an incredible draw for a third-round match."
On this form Jankovic will fancy her chances against anybody, even holder Justine Henin who she could meet in the semi-final.
The Belgian world number one, looking for her fourth title in five years here, beat Italian Mara Santangelo 6-2, 6-3.
There was better news for Italy when Filippo Volandri became the first man from his country to reach the fourth round for 12 years by outlasting seventh-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic in a five-setter.
Fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko was untroubled against Frenchman Michael Llodra, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Women's sixth seed Nicole Vaidisova advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Samantha Stosur but former runner-up Elena Dementieva was well beaten by France's Marion Bartoli.
- REUTERS
