Jankovic falls short in Montreal

Jelena Jankovic missed out on another chance to become world number one after suffering a 7-5 6-2 defeat by Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup on Friday.

After fellow Serb and world number one Ana Ivanovic lost in the third round on Thursday, Jankovic would have moved to the top of the rankings with victory over Cibulkova.

But Jankovic again missed out on her chance as Cibulkova, who had disposed of fifth seed Elena Dementieva and 12th seed Nadia Petrova, set up a semi-final meeting with 10th seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, who defeated Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-2 6-3.

Russian seventh seed Dinara Safina is the highest seed remaining in the draw after recording a 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory over fourth seeded compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Safina survived 12 double faults to set up a last four meeting with 11th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who beat unseeded 17-year-old Tamira Paszek 6-4 7-5.

Since the start of May, Safina has won two titles and reached the French Open while amassing an impressive 23-3 record.

Azarenka, 19, is chasing a first title after rising to a career high 16th in the world after reaching the finals on the Gold Coast and in Prague earlier this season.

WTA - Montreal Results:
Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) def. 2-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 7-5 6-2
10-Marion Bartoli (France) def. Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 6-2 6-3
11-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) def. Tamira Paszek (Austria) 6-4 7-5
7-Dinara Safina (Russia) def. 4-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 2-6 6-3 6-2