Red-hot Serena sets up semi with Elena

MELBOURNE – A red-hot Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat yesterday to make her 15th Grand Slam semi-final where she will meet ice-cool Russian Elena Dementieva.

As temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius the roof was finally closed on the Rod Laver Arena and Williams was a beneficiary.The three-time champion was a set down to Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova at the time but recovered her composure against the fuming eighth seed to run out a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 winner.It earned the experienced American a shot at the in-form Dementieva, who powered past unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-2 to make her first Australian Open semi in 11 attempts.The other semi-final is between third seed Dinara Safina and her Russian compatriot Vera Zvonareva.Williams looked in serious trouble as she struggled in the first set but was granted a reprieve when the stadium roof was closed early in the second under the tournament’s extreme heat policy.The 28-year-old, who was sweating profusely in the first set and rapidly tiring, admitted the move made a huge difference.’I was in a lot of trouble today but I just relaxed and I really wanted to fight and at least go three sets,’ she said.’I said ‘Serena you can do it’ – it’s when I play my best.’Despite making the last four, she admitted she was not playing well.’It’s really encouraging (to win) because this whole tournament I felt I’ve been off and I haven’t been playing my best,’ she said.’You know, I was thinking, ‘wow, this is just not my best tennis, or even close to it.”Kuznetsova handled the heat better but could not cope with the pressure generated by the nine-time Grand Slam champion, failing at crucial moments in the match.The Russian was angry that they were ordered off court for the roof to be shut while she had a grip on the match.’Yeah, I was definitely angry. Why should I not be? The game was going my way,’ said the 2004 US Open champion.’I’m fine playing without the roof, I think the guys on Tuesday, it was the same weather. Everybody was playing with the roof open. Why today did they have to close it? I didn’t get it.’That’s why I was angry.’Dementieva was untroubled by giant killer Suarez Navarro, who knocked out Venus Williams in the second round.But after playing her entire match, which preceded the Williams-Kuznetsova clash, with the roof open and in the full glare of the blazing sun, she was not happy.’I’m really surprised, you know, because when you see the forecast, like it’s going to be 41 today, 43 on Thursday on Wednesday, the hottest week in a month,’ she said.’Why not close the roof? Not only for the players, but for the spectators, as well.’I think if you have a roof, why not use it?’She was nevertheless relieved to overcome the dangerous Suarez Navarro and set up a showdown with Williams.’Every time it’s different, especially against Serena,’ she said of today’s face-off for a place in Saturday’s final.’You don’t know what to expect from her. All the matches that we play, all the last three matches, were completely different games.’I think she likes to play here, she’s comfortable on this surface. It’s going to be a tough match.’ – Nampa-AFP