Elena Dementieva sparkles in Dubai
01.03.2008
Elena Dementieva won the largest outdoors title of her career in Dubai, defeating world #3 Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final 46 63 62.
Dementieva began her title campaign in the Middle East as a non-contender. She faced tough rival Patty Schnyder in the first round with their head-to-head split at seven matches a piece. Schnyder had won four of their six outdoor hardcourt matches coming into Dubai, and she had to save two set points on her serve deep in the first set. After saving nine of ten break points against Schnyder, she ran away with the match, losing just seven points in the second set, 75 60.
In the second round, for her only day match, she defeated top twenty-five player Alona Bondarenko easily 62 61 to set up a quarterfinal showdown against rising star and Australian Open finalist Ana Ivanovic, ranked #2 in the world. Dementieva had won their prior two WTA matches and their Hong Kong exhibition match earlier in the year, but Dementieva’s stalling records against the world’s elite asked the questions whether or not she could have the fight to deliver the goods.
After falling 13* down in the first, to lose a *43 advantage in the same set, she had to fight from a set down to defeat the world’s second best player 57 63 63, also coming back from a break down twice in the third set. With this stunning upset, Dementieva found herself in the semifinals of Dubai after making the semis in Paris two weeks ago--the first time Dementieva had made consecutive semifinals or better since Antwerp/Indian Wells in 2006. Awaiting her was feisty Italian Francesca Schiavone who had defeated world #1 Justine Henin in the quarterfinals. Schiavone had defeated Dementieva three straight times going into the semifinals, and again the question was asked if Dementieva could hold her nerve after such a huge win and sustain her form.
Again, Dementieva wasted leads in the first set, serving for the first set at *54, and was broken back when serving for the second set at the same scoreline. At 75 55, with the Russian’s inability to close out Schiavone, prospects for her first final berth in 2008 looked grim. However, she broke back and successfully served out the second set 75, running away with the third set 62, grinding out and wearing down her opponent just as she had done against Ivanovic.
Awaiting world #11 in the final was #3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, against whom she had also lost three straight times. Heading into the final, since 2006, Dementieva had won four of her last five finals, while Kuznetsova had won four of her last twelve. Still, with consecutive excruciating battles, and the Indian Wells final fresh on the minds of Dementieva fans, fatigue could have been an issue in the final--however, Dementieva surprisingly wore out Kuznetsova in the championship match with her superb footwork and accurate, penetrating strokes and solid defense.
Dementieva started slowly, though, losing four of five service games in the first set. She fell down immediate break point in the second set in her first service game, and an imminent loss seemed inevitable: Kuznetsova’s level had risen incredibly by the latter stages of the first set with immaculate volleys and forehand winners, but Dementieva calmed the storm by refusing to make unforced errors and making her rival just keep playing better and better.
In the second set, she nearly let a double break lead fall to the way side with nervy play, but she broke Kuznetsova for both the second and final sets, the latter of which Dementieva smashed a wonderful forehand return inside out to seal the match and championship.
Dementieva, with this victory, collects her ninth WTA singles title, and effectively defeated, for the first time since the 2004 US Open in a WTA event, more than one top ten player in a one tournament. She took a slight lead again against Schnyder in the head-to-head, improved solid records against Bondarenko and Ivanovic, tied up the rivalry against Schiavone, and got revenge in the final for the 2004 US Open and three consecutive losses as well.
Congratulations to Elena Dementieva on one of the best title victories of her career. She will return to the top ten on Monday, March 3rd, only twenty points behind Marion Bartoli, which she could eclipse if she goes far in Indian Wells starting in two weeks.
Draw and results for the California/Florida double will be posted when available.
Colin Zeal for www.dementieva.ru
