Dinara Safina produced another inspiring performance at the 2008 French Open on Wednesday, coming back from the brink of defeat to beat Elena Dementieva in the quarterfinals.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, the only former Grand Slam champion still alive in the draw, beat Kaia Kanepi in straight sets to reach the semifinals.
In the first quarterfinal of the day at Roland Garros, Kuznetsova came from behind in the first set to best Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 7-5, 6-2. The 2004 US Open champion reached the final at Roland Garros in 2006 before losing to Justine Henin.
Kuznetsova’s countrywoman Dinara Safina appeared to be headed out of the tournament before she managed to rally against another Russian, Elena Dementieva, late in the second set. Like on Monday against Maria Sharapova, Safina forced a second set tie-break before storming back to take the deciding third set 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-0.
Both of Thursday’s semifinal matches will be one country affairs. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have guaranteed that a player from Serbia will reach Saturday’s championship match, and either Safina or Kuznetsova will play for Russia in the final.
Check back at On the Baseline later on Wednesday for a preview of the semifinal round.
the BBC commentators worte Safina off again when she was 5-2 down. they really never learn. this time i wasn’t as pleased for them to be proved wrong because i really wanted dementieva to finally win a major. i think shes running out of time.
Wow, Safina,a.k.a., the “dark horse” might take home a Grand Slam title! She’s probably saying thanks to Justine Henin right about now, although I think Safina could probably have beaten her too.
Safina is amazing! She could have made it all much, much easier by playing smarter in the second set, but she still found a way. How long can she keep this up, though?