Jankovic Claws Into Paris Open Last Four

Jankovic broke twice to open a 5-2 lead but let the advantage slip through her fingers as Cornet won five games in a row to snatch the set.

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic produced another erratic performance as she laboured into the semi-finals of the Paris Open with a 5-7 6-4 6-4 win over local favourite Alize Cornet on Friday.

The second seed, who also needed three sets to reach the last eight, will take on either France's Amelie Mauresmo or Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland for a place in Sunday's final.

Jankovic broke twice to open a 5-2 lead but let the advantage slip through her fingers as Cornet won five games in a row to snatch the set. A forehand error from Jankovic handed Cornet the set after 63 minutes.

Cornet failed to maintain the momentum in the second and dropped her serve in the third game. That break was enough for Jankovic to level the contest, especially since the Frenchwoman appeared to be troubled by a shoulder injury she picked up at last month's Australian Open.

Following an early exchange of breaks in the third set, Jankovic stole Cornet's serve again in the seventh game and called a medical time out to have her blistered feet treated.

It did not prevent her from wrapping up the win on her second match point when Cornet sent a backhand wide after two hours and 37 minutes.