Elena Dementieva will head the seeding list of this year’s Ordina Open as she launches her short grass court season in the lawns of s’Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.
The Russian could have potentially faced her Australian Open conqueror, Julia Schruff, but Dementieva’s countrywoman, Elena Vesnina had other ideas and dismissed the German 6-2 and 6-3. Dementieva will now face her homonym for the first time, and this can well be a titanic Russian battle as both women can hit pretty strong from both wings.
Should Dementieva advance she is highly likely to meet Serbian Ana Ivanovic. Ivanovic displayed power shots and agressiveness in hr first round beating of Alicia Molik edging the Australian in htree sets by 6-2; 3-6 and 6-1. But before the Serbian dares to aspire a quarterfinal berth, she will have to play Czech Iveta Benesova, who sent Indian Sania Mirza packing in the first round.
For the semifinals Michaella Krajicek, Elena’s former doubles partner, who beat current Dementieva’s doubles partner Flavia Pennetta 7-5 and 6-3 and Jelena Jankovic seem to be the most likely while for the final the red-hot Dinara Safina looms ahead as the Russia got the second seed. But the second seed won’t have an easy walk in the park on her road to the final. She may face countrywoman Maria kirilenko in the semis and before that Medina Garrigues and Marta Domaschowska will certainly pose a threat.
This is will be the fifth time Elena enters the Ordina Open, her first participation was in 2001 wheh she lost a first round match to big serving Iroda Tulyaganova from Uzbekistan. Last year Elena was forced to retire during her second round match versus Chladkova. Through the years Dementieva compiled a 6-4 record at this event.
Black horses to watch out for include Greece’s super grass court player Elena Daniilidou, who won this tournament back in 2002 beating Dementieva ater trailing 1-3 third set and the first round conqueror of Justine Henin-Hardenne in Wimbledon 2005. Also Paola Suarez and Virgina Ruano Pascual can be threatening. Suarez in coming off a long layoff after battling severe injuries, while Ruano Pascual has tasted a fourth round in Wimbledon some years ago as well as a third round finish. Both passed through the qualifying draw.
In the doubles event Elena partners Flavia Pennetta. They will play Olympic champions Na Li and Tian Tian Sun from China.
The Ordina Open is now on it’s 11th editon. It used to be played in Rosmalen until 1999, when it was moved to ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Former winners are Koukalova (2005), Mary Pierce (2004), Kim Clijsters (2003), Daniilidou (2002), Justine Henin-Hardenne (2001), Martina Hingis (2000), Kristina Brandi (1999), Julie Halard-Decugis (1998), Ruxandra Dragomir (1997) and Anke Huber (1996).
