Ruthless Jankovic maintains course for top ranking

By Matthew Cronin

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) - Top seed Jelena Jankovic remained on course to become the world's top ranked player when she eased to a 6-3 6-2 triumph over Melinda Czink in the third round of the Los Angeles Classic on Thursday.

Victory at this event will allow the 23-year-old Serb to leapfrog her compatriot Ana Ivanovic in the world rankings and her task was made easier when third seeded Anna Chakvetadze was beaten by Sybille Bammer in three tough sets.

Russia's Vera Zvonareva also lost, the fifth seed falling 6-4 7-5 to countrywoman Nadia Petrova, who lined up a quarter-final showdown against Jankovic with the victory.

Playing her first tournament since injuring her knee at Wimbledon last month, Jankovic dominated her left-handed Hungarian opponent, controlling the rallies and sending down seven aces in a powerful display of serving.

"If I could hit this serve every day like that, my life would be so much easier," Jankovic told reporters.

"You don't have to break a sweat and you're winning games. There's no pain in my knee and I'm really happy about that."

Russia's Chakvetadze, however, suffered the pain of defeat and was clearly frustrated by her performance against the Austrian 14th seed following her 6-4 5-7 6-2 loss.

"She (Bammer) didn't do anything special," Chakvetadze said.