Top seed Jelena Jankovic was bundled out of the Pan Pacific Open in a 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 defeat by Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova [Images] in Friday's quarter-finals.
The defeat ended the Serb's hopes of recapturing the world number one ranking from Serena Williams [Images] this week following her recent loss to the American in US Open [Images] final.
Jankovic tore through the first set but, after being pegged back by Kuznetsova, both women struggled in a decider, which saw eight breaks of serve.
A double fault gave Kuznetsova a 6-5 lead and the Russian's nerve held as she closed out proceedings with a kicking serve and a sharp backhand drop volley after almost two and a half hours.
Jankovic's fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic, the second seed in Tokyo, was upset by Russia's [Images] Nadia Petrova in her opening match on Thursday.
Six of the world's top 10 had entered the US $1.34 million Pan Pacific Open.
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