London: Maria Sharapova overcame the distraction of a male streaker to dispatch fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-1 6-4 in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The 2004 champion ran seventh seed Dementieva ragged for much of the match with hefty serves and typically brutal hitting down both flanks in sultry conditions on Centre Court.
In her third successive Wimbledon semi-final Sharapova will face either French top seed Amelie Mauresmo or Russia's Anastasia Myskina.
"I got off to a really good start and put a lot of pressure on her serves," Sharapova told the BBC.
"I had a little bit of a let down in the second but I'm really happy to be in the semi-finals again."
Dementieva's serve is her biggest flaw and she failed to hold her opening service game.
Sharapova took charge and she was a set up after only 27 minutes.
Sharapova broke the 2005 US Open semi-finalist twice at the start of the second set and seemed to be cruising to victory when, at 3-0, the streaker ran on to court.
The 19-year-old averted her gaze as he cart-wheeled in front of her before being hustled away in a red blanket by security.
Sharapova was soon 4-0 up but her aim suddenly went awry and Dementieva broke serve to trail 4-2 and then held again to narrow the gap to only a game.
Still apparently rattled, Sharapova had to save two break points before holding serve for 5-3.
Composure restored, she served out the match to love, securing victory when Dementieva netted a service return.
Last year Sharapova was beaten in the semi-finals of her favourite grand slam by eventual champion Venus Williams.
Since winning her only grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2004 she has lost four grand slam semi-finals.
Comments
0 comment