Dementieva made to work hard for quarter-final spot at Roland Garros
Russia's Elena Dementieva had to dig deep to reach the quarter-finals of the
French Open after dispatching compatriot Vera Zvonareva in three sets.
Seventh-seeded Dementieva took the early initiative but let her lead slip
before rallying in the third to claim a 6-4 1-6 6-2 victory that sets up another
all-Russian last-eight clash with either Dinara Safina or world number one Maria
Sharapova.
Zvonereva, seeded 11th, made a bright start to the opener with two early breaks
but Dementieva fought back as her opponent's serve began to break down,
eventually going ahead 5-4 before holding to claim the set.
Dementieva laboured in the second, dropping five games in a row as Zvonerava
found an extra gear under a grey Parisian sky.
Dementieva finally held in the sixth, but she was only delaying the inevitable
as her opponent took the set in the next game, converting set point with a well
executed smash.
But the 26-year-old Dementieva proved too strong for her fellow Moscow native
in the decider, racing into a 3-0 lead before closing out the match.
I've done it: Dementieva savours victory
