But Safin did not have to stretch himself much to seal the set, Lopez making a string of unforced errors to lose the tie-break 7-1 and fall 2-1 behind in sets.
The strength of the 2008 junior champion's game is her ball-striking and it came to her aid in game eight as she broke to love with a fizzing return of serve, but Jankovic was climbing all over the Robson second serve and she broke once again to seal the set in 31 minutes.