Wednesday, September 6 2006 12:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Jelena Jankovic posts her third-straight win over a top 10 player, reaching the semi-finals of the US Open on Tuesday (5 Sep, 2006) with a stunning upset of 2004 finalist Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-2, 6-1.

The 19-year-old Jankovic is still bubbling well after the win and is so busy celebrating she says cannot even remember the final score.

"What was the score? I don't even know the total score," Jankovic says.

"It's amazing. She beat me in Los Angeles. We played for 2 1/2 hours and it was a tough match. I was expecting to have a tough battle. I don't know what happened."

It is the second-straight upset in, as many days for Jankovic who looks nothing like the player who dropped nine straight matches between January and May.

"I am happy I pulled it through," Jankovic says. "I'm so excited to be in the semi-finals." "I played solid, didn't allow her to play her game. I was also returning well."

In fact, Dementieva looks like the lost soul out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium, as she cannot overcome her poor serving and a rash of errors in the 62-minute match.

Dementieva, the runner-up at Flushing Meadows two years ago, has five double faults and 39 unforced errors.

"I am disappointed," Dementieva says.

"I'm getting older and I haven't won a Grand Slam. That's what I am thinking about all the time. I feel like I was in good shape here. That's why it is sad."

Jankovic, the 15th seed from Serbia, will meet one of two former champions Lindsay Davenport (1998) or Justine Henin-Hardenne (2003) for a place in the final.

Jankovic reaches the quarterfinals by dismantling former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2.

She also stuns Czech ninth seed Nicole Vaidisova 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round and is now heads for her biggest payday since making her tour debut five years ago in Indian Wells, California.

"I have so much confidence right now," Jankovic says.

"I beat three top 10 players. It's amazing. I don't know what to say."

Jankovic steamrolls her way through the match until the final game where she finally clinches it on the fourth match point when Dementieva's shot sails long.

Asked what is going through her mind when she stumbles through an 0-9 streak earlier this year she says, "It was terrible. When you go through something like this it makes you stronger."

Jankovic says she is sick with a virus and almost quit the sport during her losing streak.

"I took two and a half months off to recover. I don't know what was wrong with me. I didn't have the will to practice and when I got on the court I didn't want to win matches. I almost quit playing tennis." "I wanted to continue my studies. I'm in the second year of university and I'm doing well in tennis. I have the right balance now."