Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, January 19, 2004 (bbc.co.uk) - Number seven seed Elena Dementieva crashed out on the opening day of the Australian Open as 18-year-old Jelena Jankovic caused the first shock in Melbourne.
The Russian was swept aside 6-1 6-4 by a player ranked number 79 in the world.
Jankovic, from Serbia & Montenegro, made a blistering start by rattling off the opening
four games of the match.
Dementieva did manage a service break but Jankovic broke straight back and served
out the set.
The roles were reversed in the second set as the favourite surged into a 3-0 lead.
But Jankovic reeled off the next four games to lead 4-3, only for Dementieva to break
back and level at 4-4.
She self-destructed in the next game however, serving an eighth double fault at
break-point down.
Jankovic took full advantage, holding her nerve and her serve to complete a major
upset.
"I usually have problems at the beginning of the year," said Dementieva, who blamed
her defeat on insufficient acclimatisation after spending Christmas in freezing
Moscow.
"I may have to look at my schedule for next year because losing in the first round two
years in a row is not good.
"I came to Australia late because I decided to be home in Moscow for Christmas. My
life is more important to me than tennis."
While Dementieva left Melbourne Park considering whether to skip the event next
year, Jankovic was celebrating the best result of her short career.
"It's my first win over a top 10 player," the 18-year-old said. "I am just so happy."
