Dementieva defeats Safina in three-setter to win second straight title in Sydney

No. 3 seed Elena Dementieva roamed the courts on Friday, as she ousted compatriot No. 2 seed Dinara Safina to win her second title in a row and of the year in Sydney.

Dementieva crushed Safina in three sets, 63 26 61, and is now 10-0 in her record for 2009, as she went 5-0 to win the ASB Classic last week, and 5-0 to win the Medibank International this week. The tournament for Dementieva was great, as she won it, and had won to two players ranked highe than her (Serena Williams is No. 2, and Dinara Safina is No. 3, while no. 1 Jelena Jankovic did not compete).

"You never know if you are close or not. Sometimes you can be very close, but it's a very tough step to make it.

"I do have such goals in my career, and I'm trying to achieve. I don't know if it's going to come soon or not, but I'm trying so hard," said the two-time Grand Slam finalist.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Singles - Final

(3) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (2) Dinara Safina (RUS) 63 26 61