Dementieva ousts Sharapova

ByEurosport

Published 12/08/2006 at 22:03 GMT

Elena Dementieva recorded her first win against number one seed Maria Sharapova in over three years on Saturday as she moved into the final of the WTA event in Los Angeles. Dementieva sealed victory 7-5 6-2 and will meet Jelena Jankovic in the final on Su

While all the speculation before the match had centred around just how Dementieva's fallible serve would hold up in the face of Sharapova's fierce groundstrokes, it was the latter who struggled early on.

Number three seed Dementieva raced into a 5-1 lead while her opponent repeatedly double faulted and was broken on three consecutive occasions.

The 19 year-old then began to find her range, and pulled back to 5-3, where a successful challenge to an umpire Alison Lang's over-rule, coupled with a further error from the umpire in awarding the point to Sharapova brought the match back on serve.

WTA Los Angeles

Dementieva holds on for win

13/08/2006 at 20:16

But after initially seeming rattled by the confusion surrounding the over-rule, Dementieva quickly regained her composure and went on the offensive again, wrapping up the first set after reeling off two consecutive games.

Sharapova's tally of 29 unforced errors in the first set needed to come down if she was to force her way back into the game, but instead she became even more erratic.

Winners were frequently followed by careless unforced errors, and approaches to the net almost invariably ended in the number one seed spraying volleys wide.

Dementieva suffered a momentary lapse of concentration that let Sharapova pull back to 3-2, but soon recovered her form and moved 5-2 ahead as the two traded fierce rallies from the back of the court.

TENNIS 2006 WTA Los Angeles Sharapova M. - Dementieva E.

Image credit: Reuters

The final game of the match turned into a rather epic affair, with Demeniteva eventually sealing victory with her seventh matchopoint.

"I feel really great," she exclaimed after the match. "I have lost to her twice this year and I was really looking forward to this match because she is such a tough player.

"This win really means a lot to me. When you play against Maria, she is a great fighter and never gives up. That makes it difficult to play against her."

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13/08/2006 at 05:24

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Dementieva serve the key

12/08/2006 at 18:27

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Williams overcomes challenge

11/08/2006 at 22:19