The final 8 at Women’s Wimbledon 2009 battled it out in sweltering conditions with the UK currently in the grip of a heatwave which is set to continue and get hotter for the rest of the week, bringing new challenges onto the court. Seeding and World Ranking won the day and its a 1,2,3,4 semi final with the World No1, No2, No3 and N04 all making it through to the semi’s defeating anything outside that ranking. Elena Dementieva 30 June. Photo: Getty
The media and tennis circles are picking up increasingly on the fact that this could be a repeat of last years final with a Williams v Williams clash, it remains to be seen whether this turns into fact and the odds are looking in its favour as that day gets nearer. Serena Williams below 30 June Photo: Getty
“We are definitely the front-runners in tennis as far as being some of the best players out there,” Venus said. “I just think that the style of game that Serena and I play, that particular style we play better than the other women.”
Dinara Safina The world No1 didn’t exactly play at her best but still managed to win against Sabine Lisicki which was a lucky drawn opponent for her.
Safina said of her match today:
“I was Santa Claus on the court, serving so many double-faults,” said Safina, appearing in her first Wimbledon semifinals. “I was tough mentally, that was the key today.”
Quarter Final Womens Wimbledon 2009 Results: Number Prefix indicates seeding
1-Dinara Safina (Russia) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1
3-Venus Williams (US) beat 11-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-1 6-2
4-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-2 6-2
2-Serena Williams (US) beat 8-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 6-2 6-3
Venus Williams will next face top-ranked Dinara Safina and Serena Williams will face No. 4-seed Elena Dementieva.
Current bookmaker odds at the time of the quarter finals are as follows. Subject to change!
Serena Williams Favourite 13/8
Venus Williams Close Second Favourite 7/4
Dinara Safina is at 9/1
Elena Dementieva is at 12/1
Our predictions on this, we really don’t know. Venus has been wearing a knee support in the latter stages of the game but apparently this is not affecting game play and she says she is fine. Dinara Safina was also complaining of minor knee problems, but again she has made it this far but we have to add luckily as this match wasn’t her best. Serena Williams has suffered injuries prior to Wimbledon but they have shown no signs of reappearing as of yet and is on form. Elena Dementieva currently is on form and no injury problems that we are aware of but is the lowest seeding here and looking weak on betting odds. Venus Williams below 30 June. Photo: Getty
New element that is added to the game is the ability to cope with heat under competition pressure something not normally expected at Wimbledon, but this could affect players in different ways. Venus loves grass, Serena prefers the hard courts but will do well on grass as well, Venus won last year, Serena has been in the headlines this year, Safina can’t be ruled out if she manages to keep a level head and keep her mental game in check unlike the French Open where she cracked. Dinara Safina below 30 June Photo: Getty
Elena Dementieva is the outsider in betting terms but is playing very well. In summary it really is anybodies game, they all have a good chance of winning, they are all superb players, so ability is not the topic here, otherwise they would not have made it this far. Its down to luck, cool head and that deep down urge to really want to win this, that will win the day. We think on that note of all the players out there Safina wants this the most, she wants this pretty badly, and she’s ranked World No1 and lady luck has shone on her so far, but will that be enough to beat the likes of either of the formidable Williams sisters?
