Dementieva downs Mauresmo in U.S. Open quarterfinals
With a shot at claiming the No. 1 ranking, Amelie Mauresmo engaged Elena Dementieva in a contest called, “Anything you can do, I can do worse.”
Mauresmo allowed an aching, ailing and double-faulting Dementieva to come back from a set and a break down to win their miscue-marred U.S. Open quarterfinal 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) Tuesday.
Dementieva was treated for a strained groin muscle in the first set and for stomach problems in the third, then needed IV fluids for dehydration afterward.
“I had some occasions I didn’t take. So I am pretty disappointed with that and a little bit angry with myself,” Mauresmo said. “I just feel very, very disappointed.”
How disappointing was the tennis?
They combined for 24 double-faults, 82 unforced errors, 36 break points, and 14 service breaks. And all that poor serving wasn’t exactly the result of going for it: Dementieva had zero aces, Mauresmo three.
“Her serve is maybe a little weak, but then she’s very quick and very aware that she’s going to have to play a nice shot after,” Mauresmo said. “And that she did pretty well today.”
As poor as the shot- and decision-making were, in all fairness, there was terrific play occasionally. Dementieva won the point on 29 of 31 trips to the net, and the French Open runner-up hit a bold backhand that caught a line to close a 16-stroke exchange and break back to 4-4 in the deciding set.
A victory would have guaranteed No. 2 Mauresmo of leading the rankings for the first time. That’s because current No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne, the defending Open champion, lost to Nadia Petrova on Monday night.
In the wacky world of the computer rankings, though, Mauresmo still will climb to the top despite her loss, unless Lindsay Davenport wins the tournament. That would make Mauresmo only the second woman to be No. 1 without winning a major.
She said she wasn’t aware of the chance to secure the top spot Tuesday.
In the semifinals, No. 6 Dementieva will face No. 3 Serena Williams or No. 8 Jennifer Capriati, who played Tuesday night before Andy Roddick took on Tommy Robredo.
“I’m really looking forward to my next match,” said Dementieva, who also reached the U.S. Open’s final four in 2000. “Both Jennifer and Serena are great players, and I will try to play my best. I’m just so happy to be in the semifinals.”