Elena Dementieva managed to secure a third consecutive win for the first time since Indian Wells, by beating countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva 7-5, 6-3.
Dementieva looked cursed since Indian Wells, not managing to win three consecutive matches since the Californian event. Today, however, the story was different. Although the veteran Likhovtseva started on fire, stepping up the pace by hitting the ball from the baseline and coming in to finish on Dementieva’s short balls, it was the younger Russian who had the last word in this battle of Elenas. Likhovtseva built a 3-0 lead and then a 5-3 lead, but Dementieva’s agressiveness carried the set away, rallying past the next four games in a row to claim the set 7-5.
In the second set more drama was still to come. The older Russian, who was treated on court twice for an ankle injury, refused to give in but eventually Dementieva’s superior game helped her claiming the main points which led to a second set victory by 6-3. In the end the amount of winners by Dementieva was simply unsustainable for Likhovtseva, who commited way too many unforced errors to be able to pull through.
Next up for the beautiful blonde will be American Shenay Perry. This outsider, ranked number 62 in the world, should be taken carefully though since she came all the way with victories over qualifier Barrois, Great Britain’s standout Melanie South, who had upset Francesca Schiavone, and finally one of the few mothers on tour, Sybille Bammer in a higly constest match that finished 7-5, 6-3.
On other news for day 6 of The Championships, Jelena Jankovic upset reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in a dramatic 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-4 match, Anastasia also passed her Spanish opponent putting away a late charge from Anabel Medina Garrigues. Ana Ivanovic set a 4th round clash with world number one Amelie Mauresmo by beating Dinara Safina in three tough sets. Maria Sharapova and Flavia Pennetta also won their respective matches.
