| Elena Dementieva (RUS) |
6 |
7 |
| Marion Bartoli (FRA) |
4 |
5 |
Ninth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia became the first player to reach the Acura Classic quarterfinals as she outlasted fifth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, 6-4, 7-5.
The match, which took 2 hours and 9 minutes to complete, was highlighted by numerous extended baseline rallies and a total of 12 service breaks.
On a bright, sunny day on Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Dementieva opened the match by serving a love game. Later as she led 4-3, Dementieva increased her lead to 5-3 when Bartoli double faulted on break point.
Dementieva served for the first set at 5-3, but Bartoli broke serve to get back on serve. Once again, the Frenchwoman faced a breakpoint on serve. She double faulted to give Dementieva the set.
The players exchanged service breaks to open the second set and stayed on serve until Bartoli broke Dementieva at love to take a 3-2 lead.
Three games later, the Russian came back and broke Bartoli at love to knot the set at 4-4. In the ninth game, Dementieva was broken at love as she double faulted at 0-40.
Bartoli served for the set at 5-4, but the Russian mixed up her shots and varied the pace to break serve to tie the score at 5-5. Serving for a 6-5 lead, Dementieva took a 40-15 lead and hit a forehand winner to win the game and hold serve.
Having dropped her previous two service games in the set, Bartoli tried desperately to hold serve to stay in the match, but at 30-30, Dementieva hit a drop shot off a net cord and on match point hit a cross court forehand winner to end the match.
“She makes you work for every single point,” Bartoli said after the match. “She just moved better on this surface.”
- Dementieva advances to the quarterfinals where she will face the winner of the Maria Kirilenko / Jelena Jankovic match.
- Dementieva now leads Bartoli 3-2 in head-to-head meetings.
- Dementieva is ranked 15 in the world.
- Dementieva has been ranked as high number 4 in the world (Oct. 2004).
- Dementieva is making her seventh consecutive Acura Classic appearance. She reached the quarterfinals in 2004.
- Dementieva reached the finals at Roland Garros and US Open in 2004.
- Dementieva has represented Russia in Fed Cup play.
- Bartoli is ranked 12th in the world.
- Bartoli was runner-up at Wimbledon last month.
- Bartoli was making her fifth career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the third round in 2003 and 2004.
- Bartoli has represented France in Fed Cup play.
For more match summaries, please click here.
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