Jankovic overshadows Venus

Meanwhile, sister Serena beat Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 in Round Three.

As the temperatures in the French capital nudged upwards after a cool, rainy start to the championships, world number one Roger Federer also warmed to the task of bagging the only major to elude him with a majestic 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 victory over outclassed Italian Potito Starace.

8220;It came naturally today, especially in the third set when I accelerated. I was playing well, my serve was working well. I8217;m happy to have won in straight sets,8221; Federer, who plays Russian Mikhail Youzhny next, said.

Youzhny, the 13th seed, should prove more of a challenge after looking sharp in a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 defeat of 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

After witnessing Federer8217;s masterclass, fans on Centre Court were later royally entertained for three-and-a-half hours by swashbuckling 20-year-old Gael Monfils before he succumbed in four high quality sets to uncompromising Argentine 15th seed 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.

Serena was the only one left flying the flag, and it had much to do with the impressive play of Jankovic, although Venus, runner-up here in 2002, hardly helped her cause, spraying 52 unforced errors during the contest.

8220;I just went long, long, long but it8217;s only a matter of time before it goes in, in, in,8221; the 26-year-old Williams, looking for some encouragement before Wimbledon later this month, told reporters.

The 22-year-old Jankovic, another product of the Bolletieri Academy in Florida, has now beaten Williams three times in a row. This latest triumph propelled her into the fourth round for the first time and spoke volumes for the confidence instilled by three titles this year.

8220;I stayed tough out there in the third set and I never had in my mind that I was going to lose,8221; said Jankovic, who survived a second set wobble.

8220;It8217;s a shame that Venus had to go out so early, it was an incredible draw for a third-round match.8221;

Women8217;s top seed and defending champion Justine Henin, a possible semi-final opponent for Jankovic, was in action later against Mara Santangelo.

In other third round action men8217;s fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko was untroubled against Frenchman Michael Llodra, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, while Filippo Volandri became the first Italian man to reach the last 16 for 12 years when he outlasted seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic in a five-setter.

Women8217;s sixth seed Nicole Vaidisova reached the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Samantha Stosur. She will face Italy8217;s Tathiana Garbin, another comfortable winner on Friday.

Important results Third round

Men: David Nalbandian 15, Argentina bt Gael Monfils France 7-65, 5-7, 6-4, 7-65, Filippo Volandri 29, Italy bt Ivan Ljubicic 7, Croatia 6-4, 6-74, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Guillermo Canas 19, Argentina bt Kristof Vliegen Belgium 6-2, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3; Tommy Robredo 9, Spain bt Janko Tipsarevic Serbia 6-3, 6-4, 6-0; Nikolay Davydenko 4, Russia bt Michael Llodra France 6-4, 6-2, 6-4; Roger Federer 1, Switzerland bt Potito Starace Italy 6-2, 6-3, 6-0; Mikhail Youzhny 13, Russia bt Juan Carlos Ferrero 17, Spain 6-73, 7-63, 6-2, 6-2;

Women: Serena Williams 8, US bt Michaella Krajicek Netherlands 6-3, 6-4; Marion Bartoli 18, France bt Elena Dementieva 13, Russia 6-2, 6-4; Nicole Vaidisova 6, Czech Republic bt Samantha Stosur 27, Australia 6-4, 6-4; Jelena Jankovic 4, Serbia beat Venus Williams 26, US 6-4, 4-6, 6-1