The No. 5 seed, Elena Dementieva of Russia, survived a bit of a scare against No. 19 seeded countrywoman, Nadia Petrova. Final score: 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Both players were slowed by leg injuries which were not helped by cold and rainy conditions. Petrova was hampered by a strained left thigh, which she had rewrapped midway through the first set. Dementieva also received treatment during the 17-minute break, when a trainer taped her right thigh.
Elena hit 25 winners with 24 unforced errors; Nadia had 27 winners, with 27 errors. Elena scored on 6 of 10 break points she held against Nadia; Nadia converted only 3 of 11 break points she held against Elena.
After pulling even one set to all, Elena pulled away by hitting 11 winners in the third set, when Petrova won only 12 points. In the final two sets, Dementieva lost only 10 points on her serve, including three because of double-faults.
After the match, Elena said “I think probably this is the most difficult performance since I played my first time to get to the semifinals
Nadia thought her injury hampered her play, saying “I left everything out there on the court, and I, you know, I fought till the end. It’s a bit disappointing, because, you know, I felt I had chances. But being hurt in the quarterfinal, it’s not a fun thing. Now all I can do is just dress and move on, because things are going to get better.”
Elena now leads Nadia 7-4 in career matches, and Elena has won the last five times they have played.
Elena will now face No. 17 seed, Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the semifinals who took out No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in their quarterfinal match.
