Dementieva edges closer to Paris Indoor final
Sunday, 14 February 2010
PARIS, Feb 13 (AFP): Russian top seed Elena Dementieva marched into the semi-finals of the WTA Paris Indoor Open on Friday by beating Germany's Andrea Petkovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The world number seven struggled to hit top form from the start, dropping the first set against the unseeded 22-year-old.
Petkovic fought hard in the second but the 28-year-old Russian's first serve was too strong and Dementieva went on to win in three sets for a last four match-up against unseeded American teenager Melanie Oudin.
Dementieva hailed Petkovic's determination and admitted her victory over her younger opponent was hard-fought.
"I wasn't quite sure what to expect at the beginning of the match as we had never played against each other before. I was impressed with how aggressive she (Petkovic) played," the Russian added.
The world number seven struggled to hit top form from the start, dropping the first set against the unseeded 22-year-old.
Petkovic fought hard in the second but the 28-year-old Russian's first serve was too strong and Dementieva went on to win in three sets for a last four match-up against unseeded American teenager Melanie Oudin.
Dementieva hailed Petkovic's determination and admitted her victory over her younger opponent was hard-fought.
"I wasn't quite sure what to expect at the beginning of the match as we had never played against each other before. I was impressed with how aggressive she (Petkovic) played," the Russian added.