INDIAN WELLS (California), March 18: Elena Dementieva toppled top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne and Maria Sharapova sent Martina Hingis home to set up an all-Russian women’s final at the Pacific Life Open on Friday.
Fourth-seeded Dementieva engineered an astonishing turnaround from 2-5 down in the second set to beat Belgium’s Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Sharapova showed Hingis just what she needs to work on in her continuing comeback with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
In men’s action in the 5.27 million-dollar tournament, second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal reached the semi-finals, staying on course for a championship showdown with world number one and two-time defending champion Roger Federer, and American James Blake reached the first Masters Series semi-final of his career.
Henin-Hardenne, who won this tournament in her last appearance in 2004, appeared to have her place in Saturday’s women’s final sewn up when she served for the match leading a set and 5-2.
But Dementieva won the next five games, and after dropping the set the oft-injured Belgian called for the trainer and had her right knee bandaged.
They traded breaks in the first four games of a third set marked by punishing rallies largely dictated by Dementieva.
The Russian, ranked No. 8 in the world, had one chance to claim the match in the 10th game, but Henin-Hardenne fought her off and held as they stayed on serve until the 12th.
Henin-Hardenne wasted one game point then faltered on two straight backhands to end the 2hr 52min encounter.
The same was true in Sharapova’s victory over Hingis, a match that the 18-year-old Russian said was tighter than the scoreline suggested.
Sharapova raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, Hingis unable to make a dent in her serve until the eighth game when she closed the gap to 5-3.
Sharapova responded with yet another break, however, pocketing the set when Hingis knocked a backhand wide.
Hingis’s vaunted persistence from the baseline was rewarded with a few more misses by Sharapova in the second set, but the Russian still managed to take a 4-1 lead.
Hingis hung in, fending off a break point to hold for 4-2, then breaking Sharapova to narrow the gap to 4-3.
However, the Swiss star’s strategy of prolonging the rallies and wearing down her opponent sapped her own strength as well.
“I think that’s still the deficit I have, not having played for three years, not having the stamina.”
Sharapova broke Hingis to love for a 5-3 lead, then booked her place in the final when her dejected looking opponent made two backhand errors.
She said her own efforts at improving her fitness and mobility had paid dividends.
In the marquee night match, Nadal stopped surprise Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 7-5, 6-0.
Nadal needed four match points to put it away as Baghdatis battled in vain to prevent the second-set whitewash.
“Too good for me today, that’s it,” Baghdatis said.
Nadal next faces American James Blake, who beat Russian Igor Andreev 6-1, 6-4 to reach the first Masters Series semi-final of his career.
Blake’s victory over the man who ousted third-seeded American Andy Roddick also insures he will break into the top 10 for the first time when the ATP rankings are announced next week.
Saturday’s other semifinal will feature Federer against Thai Paradorn Srichaphan.
Results:
Men
Quarterfinals: James Blake bt Igor Andreev 6-1, 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 7-5, 6-0
Women
Semifinals: Maria Sharapova bt Martina Hingis 6-3, 6-3; Elena Dementieva bt Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.—Agencies