Serena beats Sharapova as Jankovic goes out

CHARLESTON, South Carolina -- Serena Williams continued her domination of Maria Sharapova and defending champion Jelena Jankovic crashed out in quarterfinal play at the Family Circle Cup.

Williams reached the last four with a 7-5 4-6 6-1 win over Sharapova while top seed Jankovic crashed out to Vera Zvonareva, who beat the Serbian 6-3 2-6 6-3.

Fifth seed Williams improved to 5-2 overall against Sharaapova, who was losing for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008.

"In the third set I started to play the Serena game," said the fifth-seeded American who has now won four straight against second seed Sharapova.

She next faces unseeded Aleze Cornet of France who beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary 7-5 6-4.

The 26-year-old former world number one is attempting to capture her third consecutive tournament at the clay court event, having won consecutive titles in Bangalore and Miami.

"This is definitely a big win, but I still want to win the next round and win the tournament," said Williams, who is ranked ninth in the world.

Facing Williams for the first time on clay, Sharapova was in control early and served for the first set at 5-4.

Williams, however, reeled off the next three games -- including two breaks -- to steal the set. "I was lucky to hang in there during the first set," said Williams, who is 17-1 this season. "In the third set I finally started played the Serena game."

Sharapova hit back to even the match at one set apiece, but Williams dominated the decisive third set, opening up a commanding 5-0 lead en route to the win.

Sharapova's record against Williams is just one of two losing marks against current players ranked within the top 10, the other being her 3-6 record against world No. 1 Justine Henin.

Ninth seed Zvonareva lost to Jankovic in the semifinals earlier this year in Miami. The two have split their six career matches.

"She's one of the world's top players," Zvonareva said. "I just tried everything that I didn't try in Miami, I guess, and it worked better for me today."

Zvonareva playsd fourth-seed and fellow Russian Elena Dementieva in the semifinals of the $1.3 million tournament on Saturday. Dementieva beat seventh seed Patty Schnyder 6-4 6-4. E-mail to a friend

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