Dementieva happy to survive

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:14

Dementieva had to come from behind to take the first set in a tie-break, then dropped the second set before she finally got the better of her German opponent 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-1.

“It was very tough, not just because of the conditions but also playing so many matches coming in,” Dementieva said. “I wasn’t playing my best – I wouldn’t have minded having one or two days extra rest before playing – but these are the days you have got to survive. I’m glad I was able to do it.”

She added: “She played very well, had nothing to lose and was really going for her shots. I was worried.”

Fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova also needed three sets to overcome Anastasia Rodionova, winning 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Former champion Amelie Mauresmo showed no sign of the thigh injury that saw her withdraw from warm-up tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney as she beat Olga Govortsova 6-4 6-3.

It was the first match for the 2006 winner in two weeks and she was delighted to have come through unscathed.

“I was very comfortable on the leg. Over the last couple of days it felt really good and I could move around just the way I wanted,” the Frenchwoman said. “I’m just happy I got through this match.”

While the top seeds all enjoyed success, ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a quarter-finalist last year, was not so fortunate, being bundled out by Kateryna Bondarenko in three sets 7-6 (9-7) 4-6 6-1.

Tamarine Tanasugarn, seeded 32, went down in straight sets to Maria Jose Martin Sanchez 7-5 6-3 and 28th seed Francesca Schiavone was ousted by Shuai Peng 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

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