PARIS — Nikolay Davydenko blew a two-set lead Saturday at the French Open, then offered an explanation for his suddenly shaky play: nerves.

The two-time Roland Garros semifinalist said he became rattled when the momentum swung, and he was unable to halt a comeback by Ivan Ljubicic, who won 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

"First two sets he didn't play," the fourth-seeded Davydenko said. "Then he start to fighting a little bit more. ... That's why I was starting to be nervous, start to make so many mistakes."

Davydenko has played some of the best tennis of his career in recent months, despite an ATP investigation into heavy wagering on a match he lost last August at an obscure tournament in Poland.

He retired in the third set of that match, citing a foot injury. Davydenko says he did nothing wrong and has accused the ATP of dragging out the investigation.

Injury wasn't the problem against the No. 28-seeded Ljubicic, a 2006 French Open semifinalist. Both players held up well physically playing for more than 3 hours on a mild, overcast afternoon.

Davydenko won more points, but Ljubicic won the biggest ones, converting all five break-point chances. The big-serving Croatian closed out the victory with a slam volley, then collapsed on his back in glee.

The comeback victory from a two-set deficit was his fourth.

"It wasn't physically demanding," Ljubicic said. "It was more technically mentally demanding, because he was playing unbelievable first two sets, and he slowed down a little bit in the third. I smelled the blood, and I said, 'Well now, let's try to hang in here."'

Davydenko, who beat former Grand Slam champions Thomas Johansson and Marat Safin in the first two rounds, was considered a likely semifinal opponent for top-ranked Roger Federer. Instead, he was left with the feeling of "losing very fast" despite playing five sets.

"I try come back in the fifth set," he said. "But, you know, it was too late."

SCOTTSDALE CONNECTION: Even with no players from the United States left in women's singles at the French Open, Arizona still has a rooting interest.

Victoria Azarenka is from Belarus but has lived and trained the past two years in Scottsdale, and now she's in the fourth round at Roland Garros. The No. 16-seeded Azarenka beat No. 18 Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday, losing only six games in three matches this week.

The 18-year-old Azarenka even sounded just like an American teen, saying: "I was a little bit nervous, but then last two matches I was in the zone."

Since the start of the year, she has climbed in the rankings from 30th to a career-high 17th.

"This year I improved a lot my forehand, which was my weak shot," she said. "Now it's like my weapon, which helps me a lot."

Azarenka will next play No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion, who beat Azarenka in their two previous meetings. Both were on hard courts.

"She's a big player, but she's also human," Azarenka said. "I played her two times already. It probably won't be that scary anymore."

'POPEYE' JANKOVIC: Jelena Jankovic managed to find some humour in a painfully swollen forearm that she hopes won't hurt her bid for a first Grand Slam title.

The third-seeded Jankovic's right arm bothered her earlier in the French Open, and it was taped up Saturday, when she finished off a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Dominika Cibulkova to reach the fourth round.

"It was quite big," Jankovic said, describing her forearm. "I was like Popeye."

That match was suspended because of darkness during the second set Friday night. So Jankovic will be on court for a third consecutive day when she plays No. 14 Agnieszka Radwanska on Sunday for a quarterfinal berth.

"I had a lot of pain," Jankovic said. "I've been receiving a lot of treatments the last couple of days, and I'm feeling better and better."

Courtesy: The Canadian Press