STANFORD, Calif.(AP) Fourth-ranked and third-seeded Elena Dementieva spent most of her off time at home in Moscow, leaving the marathon loss to Serena Williams in the semifinals at Wimbledon far behind.
When I'm not playing tennis I don't think about it,'' Dementieva said after beating 54th-ranked Anne Keothavong, 6-1, 6-4, in the first round of the WTA Premier Bank of the West Classic on Monday.I spent quiet time with my family.''
The time off and the long flight from Russia gave Dementieva problems in the second set. She was up 5-1 and then struggled to hold off the feisty Keothavong, who is looking to reach her first career WTA Tour final after 17 ITF championships.
For the first round it was a good match,'' Dementieva said.I was playing well but I hope to have a practice and work on some things.''
Dementieva, making her debut at this event, played her first match since dropping the longest semifinal women's match ever played at Wimbledon, 6-7(4), 7-5, 8-6. She held match point at 5-4 in the third set.
It's not something that ticks me off,'' Dementieva said of the setback.It was a good experience and a good match. I was just disappointed in the way I lost.''
In other first-round matches, seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska beat Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 6-1; and Monica Niculescu beat Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-1, 6-0.
I felt very good, even with the weather - it was very hot - but everything worked,'' Radwanska said.I'm very happy that I played such a good match and I just played two sets and I am still fresh and ready to play another match.''