Defiant Dementieva delivers

14 June 2009 || By Monticelli

elena dementieva
"It is always fun to play on grass, it just takes a longer time before you really feel confident about the movement," beamed Elena Dementieva after overcoming a tricky Centre Court encounter in Monday's first round 6-2, 6-2.

The elegant Russian did stutter with service problems, partly down to the infamous windy conditions and also down to nerves following her shock exit to Australian Sam Stosur at Roland Garros.

The world no4 and top seed for the 2009 AEGON International made a real hash before sealing the opening game, which lasted quarter of an hour and comprised seven deuces against beauty Maria Kirilenko.

And Kirilenko, more famous for her on-off relationship with French ace Gael Monfils than her constant 2009 first round slips up, was well liked by the sun-drenched crowd and played with gusto before allowing her Russian compatriot to ease ahead with two breaks 5-2.

But Olympic gold medalist Dementieva sealed the set on the third attempt after twice fluffing set point with double faults, to gain the upper hand with a very flattering 6-2 scoreline.

And two breaks of serve in the next set put Dementieva firmly in the driving seat and serving for the match, which she sealed with a forehand winner as the clock at Devonshire Park reached one hour 28 minutes.

Another break in the seventh game left her serving for the match and she finished off with a forehand winner as the clock at Devonshire Park reached one hour 28 minutes.

"I think that was a good match for the first one on grass," Dementieva assessed. "We have to adjust to the grass after weeks on clay and at the French Open.” said the world No.4. “Wimbledon comes around without a lot of chance for preparation but if you’re a good athlete it only takes a couple of days to get used to the grass.”