Seventh seed Elena Dementieva moved into the second round of The Championships after a close 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 encounter with India’s Sania Mirza.During the first set, Dementieva, making her eighth visit to the grass courts of SW19, insisted on serving to the Mirza forehand. After seeing the ball consistently returned at twice the rate, the Russian, who lost in the fourth round last year to compatriot Anastasia Myskina, started to mix things up, clawing her way back into the match from 5-2 down and forcing a tie-break. In truth however, it was Mirza who had squandered the initiative, having led by a double break and throwing away both with double faults at break point down.
Mirza, who was featured on the cover of Asia’s Time magazine in its special feature on “Asia’s Heroes”, was playing with strappings on her right elbow as well as on both ankles. She started brightly in the tie-break by bludgeoning her forehands to all parts of the court.
Dementieva, who won the pair’s only previous encounter on the hard courts of Indian Wells earlier this year, stood firm and won a critical 24-stroke-rally when the score was locked at five points all. She won the set on her first opportunity after another fantastic rally ended with a backhand winner from the tall Russian.
Mirza is no stranger to grass courts having won the Wimbledon junior doubles title in 2003. However, she could not edge ahead in a topsy-turvy second set which saw another seven breaks of serve. Mirza was making her second appearance in the event having lost last year to Svetlana Kuznetsova on Centre Court, and managed just three winners compared to fifteen in the first set.
Dementieva kept her nerve when it mattered and secured a place in the second round where she will play American Meghann Shaughnessy.
Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/reports/2006-06-28/200606281151520408562.html
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