Tennis/US Open: Amelie Mauresmo's grand slam jinx struck again yesterday when she was edged out 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 by Elena Dementieva in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The defeat also dented Mauresmo's hopes of climbing to the top of the rankings for the first time.
Second seed Mauresmo, still looking for her first grand slam title, twice led by a break in the second set but sixth seed Dementieva shrugged off 15 double faults and a stomach upset to reach the semi-finals for the second time.
In a match containing 14 breaks of serve, Dementieva showed huge mental strength and despite squandering a 2-0 lead in the third set, she held her nerve to win the final-set tiebreak 7-1 and take her place in the last four.
The Russian now plays either twice former champion Serena Williams or Jennifer Capriati in the semi-finals.
Mauresmo can still become world number one but Lindsay Davenport could overtake her if she wins the tournament.
Meanwhile, it might be viewed as a contradiction in terms to suggest that Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 men's champion, was moving quietly along. His stentorian cries of "Come on" are enough to wake the dead but yesterday he pattered into the quarter-finals with something approaching a soft-shoe shuffle.
His 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over Slovakia's Karol Beck was his fourth successive straight-sets victory and was achieved with the minimum of fuss or drama. The last time he was in such imperious form was when he won the Wimbledon title in 2002, defeating Tim Henman in the semi-finals.
Since those days the 23-year-old Australian, and former world number one, has been eclipsed by the rise of Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.
Last year Hewitt made his priority the winning of the Davis Cup for Australia, which he duly achieved. Now he is gradually rebuilding his own career.
"I don't care too much about being number one again," he said. "I've been there and done that. But obviously I want to put myself in the position to add to the two grand slam titles I have won."
It was clear to all and sundry that his serve was the weakest part of his game and Hewitt has been working hard on increasing its venom. Certainly it took Beck by surprise. "I was thinking before the match that it wasn't that big but he served very well," the Slovak said.
Since winning the Wimbledon title Hewitt has reached only one grand slam semi-final: in 2002 when he lost to Andre Agassi here.
"I've played well in patches and at the moment I'm happy with my game. If I can keep this up for the next three matches, then I will be close."
Justine Henin-Hardenne, the reigning champion, failed to reach the last eight on Tuesday night, losing 6-3, 6-2 to Nadia Petrova of Russia and with it went her number one status. Her exit was the earliest for a number one seed at the US Open since Billie Jean King in 1973, although it hardly constituted a genuine shock.
Henin, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, was struck down with glandular fever in the spring but returned to winning ways in Athens, where she won the Olympic gold medal, beating Amelie Mauresmo in the final.
However, it was quickly obvious here her recovery was by no means complete. Henin committed 30 unforced errors; more surprisingly she hit only 14 winners, with her one-handed backhand, usually one of the best strokes in the women's game, being badly out of kilter. "I never felt really strong, but I'm sure it's going to come back soon. I'll just have to be patient."
Defending champion Roddick has qualified for the end-of-season Tennis Masters Cup. He joins world number one Federer as the first two players into the eight-man tournament which starts in Houston on November 13th.
The 22-year-old, currently second in the ATP Champion Race behind Federer, has won four tournaments this year, including the Masters Series in Miami.
The top seven finishers in the ATP Champions Race qualify for the Masters Cup, with the eighth place going to a grand slam champion who finishes between eighth and 20th. If no player fits that category the eighth-placed player will qualify.
