Dementieva’s dreams shattered at first hurdle

ELENA DEMENTIEVA may well soon have the game to be world number one, but she will have to wait a bit longer to become Wimbledon champion.

The 22-year-old Russian raised expectations she could eclipse her best showings of the fourth round at SW19 by reaching the French Open last month. Taking her baseline game effectively onto grass is, though, another matter as she found out to her cost on court 18 this afternoon when she was beaten 6-4 1-6 6-4 by big-hitting Czech Sandra Kleinova.

"I did not have enough time to adjust to the new surface," said Dementieva, who was seeded six by the All England Club. "I felt I needed more time to prepare. I only came to Wimbledon on Monday and that was when I started playing on grass. It takes time to get 100%," she said.