Lepchenko has Olympics in mind
Win boosts chances for London berth
Varvara Lepchenko was so pleased at beating former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic to finally reach the third round in a Grand Slam tournament, she leaned over and kissed the net.
Lepchenko, ranked 63rd and playing in her 15th major, upset 19th-seeded Jankovic 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4 in the French Open on Thursday in Paris, helping give the USA three women in the third round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2005.
“After that last point I couldn’t believe the match was over,” Lepchenko said when asked about her celebratory smooch after 3 hours, 6 minutes of play. “I was still in the moment.”
Lepchenko, who was born in Uzbekistan but lives in Allentown, Pa., also moved herself into better position to represent the USA at the Olympics this summer in London. A country can send up to four players, and they must rank in the top 56. The rankings for the Olympics are finalized June 11.
Lepchenko, 26, entered the French Open ranked fifth among U.S. women, behind Serena Williams, Christina McHale, Venus Williams and Vania King. With Thursday’s win, Lepchenko moves ahead of King.
Sloane Stephens, who plays her third-round match today against Mathilde Johansson of France, also can be in the mix. She was ranked 70th entering the French Open.
Stephens and Lepchenko were joined in the third round by McHale, a 20-year-old from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., who was a 6-1, 6-3 winner Thursday against Lauren Davis, an 18year-old qualifier from Boca Raton, Fla.
McHale will face defending champion Li Na in Round 3; Lepchenko faces 2010 champ Francesca Schiavone.
Serena back on court: Sere- na Williams, who lost in the first round Tuesday, is back in action today in mixed doubles with men’s doubles star Bob Bryan. . . . Virginie Razzano, who defeated Williams, lost her second-round match Thursday to Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).