Andy Murray of Britain chase a return from Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in their quarterfinal singles match on centre court at Wimbledon, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
(AP)
"The only regret I have — Maybe I should take a little bit more risk on match point, go down the line," Dementieva said.
It was one of dozens of spectacular points in a match filled with momentum swings and superb play. With the temperature hitting 90, Dementieva slathered white sunscreen on her face and behind her knees, and put a plastic bag of ice on her neck and armpits at changeovers. Both women took time to catch their breath after lengthy rallies.
The match might very well have hinged on a key point, when Dementieva led 4-3 in the second set and Serena double-faulted to 30-40. One more point, and Dementieva would serve for the match. But Serena hit a forehand winner that barely — we're talking less than a quarter-inch — landed on the chalk on a sideline. It was one of only seven forehand winners for Serena.
"My forehand didn't show up today. I think he went to Hawaii," she would say later, finally able to smile about it. "It's always good to win when one of your strokes is on vacation."
Her serve was most decidedly on the scene. Wimbledon's official statistics for aces date only to 2000 on all courts, and to 1995 on the show courts, and they show no woman hitting more than 19 in a match until Thursday.
"I wasn't sure if it's Serena or Andy Roddick on the other side," Dementieva said.
Serving for the second set at 6-5, Serena erased four break points — Dementieva blew one with a bad backhand — and had four aces in the game, including at 122 mph and 114 mph on the last two points.
There was still nearly an hour left to play, and at the end, Serena barely was better.
"That was intense. I mean, Dementieva was there mentally, physically," said the sisters' mother, Oracene Price, who helps Richard coach their daughters. "Serena was fortunate to get out of that one."
Coming off the court afterward, Serena said, "I'm going to come out and watch Venus and cheer her on and hope for the best."
