SYDNEY: Russia’s Elena Dementieva defeated a hobbling Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 at the Olympic tennis center on Friday to win the Sydney International for the second year in a row.
Dementieva completely outplayed the American world No.1, who was troubled by a sore left knee that restricted her movement on court.
Williams said later the injury was not serious and would not prevent her from playing at the Australian Open, starting in Melbourne on Monday, but had distracted her.
“It’s just a little pain and the strapping usually helps the pain go away sometimes,” Williams said.
“I haven’t played for two months on a competitive level, so I think it’s good for my body to go through this now, especially since I’m in doubles as well as singles.
“I think it’s a great blessing in a way. I played four matches and my body hasn’t been used to it. Now we’re ready and ready to go.” Dementieva’s win was her fifth in 12 meetings with Williams and provided her with her 15th WTA title and her second in Sydney after she beat Dinara Safina in last year’s final.
“I’m very satisfied the way I was playing today and the whole week,” said Dementieva, who received the winner’s trophy from Margaret Court.
“That’s what I was really looking for coming here in Sydney, just playing aggressively and playing with a lot of pressure.
“It was a great experience and it’s gonna help me next week.” Dementieva is still chasing her first grand slam title after making the finals at the French Open and US Open six years ago and said her win in Sydney had given her a real boost heading into the Australian Open.
“Such a big win gives you a lot of confidence,” she said.
“When it comes to the grand slam, it’s gonna be a new challenge and I have to be ready and recover from this week and be ready from the first round.
“I feel I had a good preparation here and I just want to keep the good form coming into the next week.” Dementieva seized control of Friday’s final from the outset, breaking Williams’ in the third game.
The American immediately broke back and led 3-2 before Dementieva won the next seven games on the trot to take the first set and a 3-0 in the second.
“I think she played well. I made about a thousand and two unforced errors,” Williams said.
“I was struggling a little bit, but I hate to make any excuse. I think she definitely deserves all the credit for what she did.”
Isner in final
In Auckland, crowd favorite John Isner advanced to his second career ATP Tour final on Friday with a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Spanish eighth seed Albert Montanes.
Isner, who knocked out top seed Tommy Robredo on Thursday, again used his booming serve to nullify the speedy Montanes, notching up 14 aces in the process.
The 2.05-meter tall American set up a final against experienced French campaigner Arnaud Clement with his first victory all week that did not require a third set.
“It felt good to get it done in two sets,” said Isner. “I played really well in the first and he picked it up in the second but I still had chances.
“I played a bit too tentative and that is something I can’t do tomorrow.” The 24-year-old American, who also beat Montanes in Auckland last year, seized both of his break opportunities to romp away with the first set.
The Spaniard, however, was more resilient in the second, fending off four break opportunities to send it into a tiebreak, though Isner said he felt that he was always likely to win the shootout.
“I served really well,” he said. “Probably the best I served all tournament and that was key.
“I told myself in the second set that if it went to a tiebreak I fancied my chances.”
The 32-year-old Clement advanced to his 11th career final when he upset 2008 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6.
Clement, who won his fourth and most recent ATP Tour title in Washington in 2006, controlled the tempo of the match and ran the fifth-seeded German around the court with clever stroke play.
“It was a very, very good match for me,” Clement told reporters. “I haven’t played like this for a long time.
“I don’t have a big serve like Isner or a big forehand like (Sebastien) Grosjean. I just try to be competitive in all aspects of my game.
“Today I was not fantastic anywhere but good everywhere. It was a great feeling for me on court.” The Frenchman, who made the Australian Open final against Andre Agassi in 2001, said Isner would be a tough opponent in Saturday’s final, and not just for the blistering serve.
“It’s harder today ... 10 years ago it was a bit different.
The guys with the big serve were not moving well,” he said.
“He is a very good player. He has a fantastic serve, but he is also playing well on the baseline now.
“He is a good fighter and I think he can beat anyone on the tour when he is playing his best.
“It will be hard for me to beat him, but when you are playing a final you want to win (and) if I play like I played today I think I have a chance.”
