Dementieva wins maiden Kremlin Cup
Sunday, 14 Oct 2007 15:57
Dementieva pockets a winners cheque for $182,000
Russia's Elena Dementieva stunned Serena Williams with a 5-7 6-1 6-1 victory to win the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
Dementieva, who had never previously taken a set off Williams, fought back to win in front of a 10,000 strong home crowd.
The Russian, who turns 26 tomorrow, was broken once to lose the first set.
But she stormed back by breaking Williams three times in each of the next two sets to claim her first career win over the American.
Dementieva said she was delighted at clinching her first victory over the former world number one at the fifth time of asking.
"It's just a great victory for me," Dementieva said.
"This has been one of my favourite tournaments and playing at home in front of my fans, finally I was able to do it.
"It is a very important win for me and my whole career."
Meanwhile Williams, 26, admitted she put in a horrendous performance.
"She just played really unbelievable, she should play like that more often.
"I'm not going to make excuses for myself. I played terrible. I had a feeling that almost every shot I hit, it was out."
Dementieva had been a runner-up in the Kremlin Cup in 2001 and 2004.