image: Zuma Press

Both women were using the event as a warm-up to the U.S. Open which begins next week and I would say that Dementieva should feel very confident after beating Sharapova 6-4, 6-3.  She remained steady and focused as Sharapova lost her composure after serving up error after error.  Dementieva also took down Serena Williams earlier in the week in a similar match.

“It’s great to have so many good matches against so many top-10 players here,” said Dementieva. “I hope it’s going to be good preparation. For sure, this kind of win gives you a lot of confidence, so right now it’s all about recovering and getting ready for New York.”

Regardless of the fact that Sharapova failed to win the title, she should be encouraged by her performance.  She made it to the final and that’s a great step toward returning to top form.  She didn’t seem too unhappy with being the runner-up either:  “I think it was a really great week for me. Playing six matches was great leading up to the U.S. Open. I think this was really good preparation.”

I couldn’t agree more.  I’m hoping Sharapova does well at the U.S. Open but after her performance at the Rogers Cup, I am definitely going to keep my eye on Dementieva.  She is on a hot streak.

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Dementieva Beats Sharapova at Rogers Cup

Williams just couldn’t get it together and grew increasingly frustrated with every error she made.  Meanwhile, Dementieva was the picture of composure, which allowed her to overcome a 5-3 deficit in the first set.  After losing to Williams in the semis at Wimbledon, I wasn’t surprised at all by the Russian’s focus.  “I was really waiting for this match after Wimbledon,” Dementieva said.  “It’s always very interesting to play against Serena, and I was looking for revenge after Wimbledon. I was very positive on the court, and very satisfied with the way I was playing.”

After committing 36 unforced errors, Williams said: “I can’t say I was especially feeling the fire.  Obviously you want to do well, and I always really want to do well. Honestly, I think I could have and should have won, but I didn’t, so . . . it is what it is… I really probably should have won the first set, which probably would have (led to) a different result.  But I didn’t. I started making a lot of errors (on) key shots I should have made.”

In the other semifinal game, Sharapova pulled out a victory against Alisa Kleybanova in a match that took two hours and 37 minutes to complete.  “It’s really exciting . . . it’s success by itself,” said Sharapova. “To go out there (Sunday) and play my sixth match is really an accomplishment. Coming back after not playing for a while is always tough, so I’m really grateful that I have a chance to be in another final in my career.”

Now Sharapova and Dementieva will go head-to-head in the final and if I had to place a bet, I’d wager that Sharapova would take the title.  Out of the 10 times that these ladies have battled, Sharapova has won eight times so the odds are overwhelmingly in her favor.  She seems to know exactly how to approach the situation as well: “She’s a grinder,” Sharapova said of Dementieva. “She makes you hit a lot of balls. You really have to be steady with her, and take your opportunities when you get them . . . and most importantly, go out there and execute what your plan is.”

image: TSN

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All-Russian Final At Rogers Cup in Toronto

image: Zuma Press

Venus took down Dinara Safina in a predictable semifinal match. Venus Williams has won 35 straight sets for an incredible record – she hasn’t lost on Centre Court since 2004.  That’s unbelievable!  Meanwhile, 23-year-old Safina incurred 16 unforced errors in the lopsided 6-1, 6-0 loss. At least it was over quickly – Venus destroyed the world No.1 in just 51 minutes!

The battle between Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva was a lot more interesting.  While the pair traded breaks in the first couple games and then went head-to-head for the rest of the thrilling match.  Right down to the final set, the intensity was incredible and it looked like Dementieva might take it after Williams double faulted but in the end, Williams walked away with a 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 8-6 victory over the Olympic gold medalist.

The Williams sisters, who will meet for the 21st time, have dominated the finals at Wimbledon for seven of the last nine years.  I’m sure it will be an amazing match!

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Venus vs. Serena at Wimbledon Finals

Despite her dislike for playing on the grass, top-ranked Russian, Dinara Safina, beat Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1 on Centre Court which marks the first time she has advanced to the Wimbledon semifinal.

Safina was the runner-up at the French Open and the Australian Open and she played like a true champion on the hot day in London, although she did lose her cool at one point –she slammed her racquet down after committing her seventh double-fault.  Still, she managed to compose herself, regain her focus and beat Lisicki, who had to have her trainer ice her legs as she lay down on the court during the seventh set.

The Williams sisters have both made it to the semifinals which has led me to wonder if we are going to see a repeat of last year’s results with Venus winning over Serena in the finals.

Venus Williams easily secured her spot in the semifinals by beating Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 in just 68 minutes.  It’s not surprising considering the American’s incredible record.  She has won 33 straight sets at Wimbledon since 2007.  That’s almost inhuman!  She’s now 67-9 all-time on grass

Meanwhile, Serena Williams played a clean match against Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and walked away with a 6-2, 6-3 victory on Centre Court in 1 hour, 13 minutes.  This marks the sixth time that she has made it to the Wimbledon semifinal.  Serena is a two-time champion at the All England Club.  She battled her sister for both victories in 2002 and 2003.

Russia’s Elena Dementieva routed Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-2 on Court 1 in just 66 minutes.  It wasn’t the cleanest match for the reigning Olympic gold medalist who incurred nine double faults but she managed to finish strong with a victory.

The semifinals take place on Thursday, July 2, 2009 with the following pairings:

• Dinara Safina vs. Venus Williams (Venus is 2-1 in the three times they have met before)
• Serena Williams vs. Elena Dementieva (Elena is 3-1 in the four times they have met but Serena won their most recent battle at the Australian Open)

The women’s semifinals are definitely going to be interesting.

images: Zuma Press

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Williams Sisters, Safina Make Semis

Williams, who is a two-time Wimbledon champion, will go on to face Daniela Hantuchova (who beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour, 36 minutes) in the fourth round.  Williams has won six of the seven matchups with Hantuchova including two battles at Wimbledon in 2002 and 2007 (Williams won both times).

image: Zuma Press

Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Olympic gold medalist, Elena Dementieva also advanced to the fourth round after beating her her fellow Russian, Regina Kulikova 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes.  It was Kulikova’s first-ever Grand Slam tournament.

Dementieva will go on to battle another Russian, Elena Vesnina.  If history repeats itself, Dementieva will take the match since she has beat Vesnina both times the women have met.

image: Zuma Press

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Serena Williams Advances To Fourth Round

The Olympic tennis events concluded on Sunday. Sisters Venus and Serena Williams of the United States defeated Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual for the Gold Medal in the women’s doubles competition.

Yan Zi and Zheng Jie of China defeated Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko of Russia to earn the Bronze Medal.

Venus and Serena Williams won the Gold Medal in the women’s doubles tennis competition at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal continued his winning ways for the men’s singles Olympic Gold Medal, defeating Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez in three sets: 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3. Nadal gives Spain its first ever Gold Medal in tennis and secures his new #1 spot in the world tennis rankings, ousting Roger Federer from the place he’s held for more than four years. Nadal has won 38 of his last 39 matches.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic topped American James Blake for the Bronze Medal.

Russia swept the medals in the women’s singles competition, with Elena Dementieva defeating her countryman Dinara Safina in three sets: 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Vera Zvonareva defeated China’s Li Na for the Bronze Medal.

This is the first time since 1908 that one country has swept an Olympic tennis event.

Americans Venus and Serena Williams were eliminated from the tournament earlier in the week.

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Olympic Tennis Final Results

It was a day of upsets in tennis at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday. First top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland was defeated by James Blake of the United States. Then both Venus and Serena Williams of the United States lost their respective matches.

Serena, seeded #4 in the women’s singles competition, was defeated by Russia’s Elena Dementieva (pictured above), the #5 seed, in three sets.

Venus played China’s Li Na, losing in two close sets, 5-7, 5-7.

Venus and Serena Williams are partners and still in the women’s double competition. They won the Gold Medal in doubles at the 2000 Games in Sydney.

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Williams Sisters Both Ousted in Day of Tennis Upsets