Clijsters and Jankovic did not finish their match until past midnight

Kim Clijsters was unable to convert a final-set lead as she fell to fifth seed Jelena Jankovic 1-6 6-3 7-5 in the last 16 of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Clijsters, playing in her second event since returning from two-years in retirement, led 5-3 in the third set but could not close out the win.

The 26-year-old Belgian was boosted by receiving a wildcard for the US Open.

"Disappointed and a little frustrated with the match," Clijsters told her Twitter feed.

"Still shows how close I am to top-five level after a few matches back."

Maria Sharapova beat Vera Zvonareva 6-2 7-6 (7-3) after a storm had earlier seen the centre court evacuated.

"I've had a lot of rain delays but probably none because of a tornado," said the unseeded Sharapova.

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"I know there were tornado warnings but I didn't hear much because I was in the players' locker room and we're around cement and that was good."

Second seed Serena Williams eased to a 6-1 6-4 win over Alona Bondarenko, but the American said afterwards: "I was trying to be perfect and just couldn't get my serve in.

"I got frustrated. I thought I played pretty well yesterday. I was a little disappointed in myself today after playing so well."

Williams will now face Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic who reached Friday's quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Jie Zheng.

Sharapova, who had never been past the third round at the Canadian tournament, will take on 14th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5 6-3.

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva had a tough time as she beat Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1 1-6 6-4 but the Russian battled through and will face Australian Samantha Stosur, who defeated Virginie Razzano 6-3 6-1.

And Aravane Rezai of France could not upset the odds for a second time following her surprise win over Dinara Safina on Wednesday as she lost 6-3 6-4 to Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.

Kleybanova will play Jankovic in the remaining quarter-final.

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