Sports
Elena Dementieva (AFP Photo / Glen Kirk)
Dementieva and Safina last Russians left at Wimbledon
Published 29 June, 2009, 21:53
Both Serena and Venus Williams eased past the fourth round into the final eight at Wimbledon, as did Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina – the last Russians remaining in the singles brackets.
The 4th-seeded Dementieva moved through at the expense of fellow Russian Eleva Vesnina. She made it in style, 6-1 6-3, and will now take on Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the quarterfinals.
World No. 1 Dinara Safina was also in action on Monday, taking on former tennis queen Amelie Mauresmo. Top-ranked Safina became the first player to win a match under Wimbledon's new roof, rallying to beat Mauresmo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The match was interrupted with Safina leading 4-1 in the second set for the first rain delay of the tournament. The roof was closed before play resumed about 30 minutes later.
Safina trailed 3-0 in the decider but broke back twice for a 5-4 lead and then served out the match. She will next play the woman who ousted Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sabine Lisicki of Germany.
Serena and Venus Williams are also through to the final 8 after easily beating, respectively, Daniela Hantuchova and Ana Ivanovic. The Williams sisters have made the Wimbledon final a family affair, and it could very well happen again this year.
Meanwhile, the last Russian player in the men’s singles was knocked out. Igor Andreev went down to Germany's Tommy Haas in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic was easy winner over Dudi Sela, defeating the Israeli player in straight sets.
And Roger Federer is into the quarterfinals after beating Sweden's Roger Soderling in their Centre Court rematch of this month’s French Open final. It was the five-time champion's 11th successive victory over Soderling.
