Dementieva beats Sharapova in Toronto

Eurosport - Mon, 24 Aug 09:32:00 2009

Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva picked up her third title of the year and denied compatriot Maria Sharapova a comeback win with a 6-4 6-3 victory in the Toronto final.

Elena Dementieva of Russia, chase down a forehand on her way to defeating Serena Williams of the United States, during semi-final match in Toronto AP - 0

Dementieva's victory was just the third in nine meetings against Sharapova, who was playing for a title for the first time since Amelia Island in April 2008 as she continued her return from shoulder surgery.

It is the 14th career title for Dementieva and comes with a good omen, the three past winners of the Toronto tournament going on to capture the US Open.

"I felt like Lleyton Hewitt today, I was fighting for every point, so many long rallies, it's not the game I like to play," Dementieva said. "I was just waiting for my chances and didn't rush.

"This kind of win gives you a lot of confidence, so right now it is all about recovery and getting ready for New York."

Working her way back to top form after nine months on the sidelines, Sharapova has made steady progress since she launched her comeback in May.

But the three-time grand slam winner showed in an uneven final that her game still needs sharpening as she served up nine double faults to Dementieva in the opening set.

Despite her service woes, Sharapova heads to Flushing Meadows on an upbeat note. She is guaranteed to be seeded at the US Open, moving up from her current 49th ranking into the top 32 by reaching the Toronto final.

"My mindset going into every single tournament is to be the champion and if you're not ready to do that and you're not ready to compete in six matches then I don't think you should be in the draw," said Sharapova. "With every tournament I've played in the summer I felt like was starting to play better and get a feel for the hardcourts.

"I've definitely improved over the weeks, with every match I felt like I stepped it up when I had and today I just came up a little short."

The first set produced little high quality tennis expected from two of the world's most accomplished players, as Sharapova (9) and Dementieva (5) combined for 14 double faults, seven service breaks and a truck load of unforced errors.

The second produced just one break by Dementieva in the sixth game to go up 4-2.

The Beijing Olympic champion then held her serve the rest of the way, closing out the contest on her third match point when a cheeky drop shot from Sharapova bounced off the net.

Reuters

Comment 38 - 57 of 57

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  1. Never knew Hewitt goes for everything

    From dimeji_stunt, on Tue 25 Aug 12:18PM

  2. That sensored word was ankers with a W in front. Sorry­ Forgot, Eurosport does not condone certain descriptive­ words.

    From Con, on Tue 25 Aug 6:55AM

  3. Just got home from a wonderful dinner with friends so I­ thought I’d check up on some results. Surprise,­ surprise, the same @#$% making the same boring­ statements. They are multiplying and can’t get enough­ of me, what boring lives they must have. Just one thing­ guys, players can’t answer back to your insults, I can.­ Public enemy no.1, cool, I think I like that. If you­ think I’m distasteful and a nuisance now, wait till you­ really Tick me off. I’ll tell you what, if you all­ apologise to all the players, other viewers and me for­ all the verbal Diarrhea you been spreading, I promise­ not to get in your faces again. I’m not going anywhere­ so you better get used to my Smirk cause it’s going to­ be looking at you every time you log onto to this blog.­ So what’s it going to be, do we trade insults till next­ X-Mas or do we try and respect each other and get­ along???

    From Con, on Tue 25 Aug 6:45AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I would just love a threesom with Elena and Maria S !

    From sanchez.santos, on Tue 25 Aug 3:31AM

  5. Smoke P

    Wow! lol! Please go easy on Con..vict. On the­ other hand, say whatever is allowed here.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Tue 25 Aug 1:52AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Smoke P!!!! you Tell him, that CON--VICT is really a­ nuisance, I'm really not sure if he went to­ school!!! what a prize HASS.....HOLE!!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Tue 25 Aug 1:43AM

  7. Hey Con...vict! Looks like you have picked on someone­ else with your preposterous views and comments. People­ here including me have found you very distasteful. ­ Justlovethisgame, Bobito, Ashleysikod, Attaha,­ Chukwuemeka.....and the list keeps going.

    Con...vict,­ you are becoming more of a nuisance than a respectable­ blog member. Blog's public enemy no.1. Change you­ name, turn a new leaf and drop your cocky self absorbed­ attitude. And one more thing...get rid of that photo­ with a ridiculous smirk.

    From Smoke P, on Tue 25 Aug 1:24AM

  8. Good result Elena. Maria still has a lot of work too­ do.

    From Doh, on Mon 24 Aug 11:29PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    What a player SHARAPOVA really is!!! She will win US­ Open!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Mon 24 Aug 11:08PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CON!!! You really are CONfusing me!!! By the way: that­ is my GIRLFRIEND in the pic and I think we BOTH look­ quite good in the PIC!!! I think you would look quite­ good if you pulled a EXTRA LARGE SIZE­ "CON.....DOM" over your HEAD,as you seriously­ look like
    a "PRIZE PR........ICK!!!!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Mon 24 Aug 10:55PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    justlovethisgame, your CONfusing yourself. You­ obviously understand all that I am writing so there­ can't be much wrong with my grammer or education.­ By the way who's the girl in the picture, your­ girlfriend???

    From Con, on Mon 24 Aug 10:49PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Don't try to "CON" me, you HASS...HOLE!!!­ I was just getting a little concerned about some of­ your comments and I picked up thet you probably did not­ attend school as a child,this is the reason you are­ looking for attention on this blog, did you make high­ school or were you well into your teens still in­ kindergarden!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Mon 24 Aug 10:40PM

  13. By the way, you don't justlovethisgame, you love­ playing with yourself and insulting players for fun. If­ you made comments at work or in the street like you do­ on the internet you'd be in jail. Keep disgracing­ yourself.....

    From Con, on Mon 24 Aug 10:35PM

  14. justlovethisgame, I bet I've played more tennis­ than you monkey brain. What are your qualifications­ other than hanging on trees??? Let us have your view of­ the world or does it only revolve around you???

    From Con, on Mon 24 Aug 10:30PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SHARAPOVA is definately the queen of tennis these days,­ most of the girls on the ATP tour are not very­ appetising BUTT MARIA is:- well,, just LOVELY!!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Mon 24 Aug 10:27PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    CON!!!! are you qualified to make all these comments,­ have you ever played tennis, or are you just an­ aggravating litttle HASS...HOLE!!

    From What-a-Load-of-Rubbish-U-Lot, on Mon 24 Aug 10:25PM

  17. ashleysikod, you can't even read let alone write.­ Read my comment...I made some responses to­ comments­ that Safina doesn't deserve the No1­ ranking and on­ recent form I believe Elena is on track­ to win her­ first GS. Thombs down on both your comments, save your­ breath and energy for all the crying you'll be­ doing when Serena does not win the US.

    From Con, on Mon 24 Aug 10:13PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Convict...Elena Beat Serena in Toronto and just of a­ sudden now she's the best on tour and the favourite­ to win in Flushing Meadows. How could you be that so­ naive? Oh, i forgot, you are Convict. Though Safina­ have her own demons to surmount, she has consistently­ featured in finals of most of the tournaments Grand­ Slams she has been in with more titles to brag about.­ Elena is good but i'm sure you will blindly stick­ to your guns anyway.

    From ashleysikod, on Mon 24 Aug 9:30PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Convict...i mean Con! You are flip flopping like a­ politician running for office. YOU made comment about­ Safina not deserving the top rank? What a load @#$%!­ It's like a blind man finally getting his vision­ back.

    From ashleysikod, on Mon 24 Aug 9:16PM

  20. attaha, remind me of one instance when my comments were­ on someone's race or their looks. Yet again, I do­ not love the Russian squad. I made some responses to­ comments that Safina doesn't deserve the No1­ ranking and on recent form I believe Elena is on track­ to win her first GS, perhaps even take over from­ Safina. It is a fact that 4 of the top 7 and 11 of the­ top 50 women are Russian and many more are from the­ Eastern Block. People who have issues with their ethnic­ background or their looks are Racists and­ discriminants. It is sad to hear that you'll be off­ air SOON and that you have only concentrated on just 2­ players of recent. Your views are yet again evidence of­ the state of women's tennis today.

    From Con, on Mon 24 Aug 8:14PM
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