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ShareCARSON (California): The prospect of a dream Los Angeles Open final between top-seed Maria Sharapova and twice champion Serena Williams evaporated on Saturday when both players were upset in the semifinals.
A fatigued Sharapova, chasing a second successive WTA Tour title, went down 7-5 6-2 to fellow Russian Elena Dementieva while Williams, playing her third event of the year because of a knee injury, lost 6-4 6-3 to Serbian Jelena Jankovic.
The 21-year-old Jankovic, who beat Williams when the pair met for the second time in Dubai last year, clinched the opening set by breaking her opponent in the 10th game before the American was warned for racket abuse.
Refusing to be intimidated by the power of Williams, the Serb returned superbly, was rock-solid at the net and controlled most of the rallies from the baseline.
Although severely tested by Williams on her own serve, Jankovic broke the American again in the fourth game of the second set to pave the way for victory.
Former world number one Williams, making a series of uncharacteristic unforced errors, was never able to get back into the match and the Serb held serve to love to book her place in Sunday's final.
"I was surprised with what I got back today, but I knew that's what I had to do against Serena because she hits the ball so hard," 16th-seeded Jankovic told reporters.
"She's one of the hardest hitters out there but I returned really well. I think that made the difference."
In the first semifinal, 19-year-old Sharapova lost a pulsating opening set in over an hour after battling back from 1-5 down.
Third-seeded Dementieva, using superb groundstrokes from the baseline, then took advantage of a series of unforced errors by her opponent to sweep through the second set.
It was her second victory over Sharapova in seven career meetings and ended a run of eight wins in a row by the world number four.
"I feel really great," an elated Dementieva told reporters.
"I have lost to her twice this year and I was really looking forward to this match because she is such a tough player.
"This win really means a lot to me.
"When you play against Maria, she is a great fighter and never gives up. That makes it difficult to play against her."
On whether she had been affected by the sapping heat at the Home Depot Center, the 24-year-old from Moscow replied: "It was tough to play but when you are on the court you are so focused you just want to win no matter what."
Sharapova, who had not dropped a set in her run of eight wins, felt she had paid the price for playing nine matches in 13 days.
"I haven''t played this much in a while, she said after an erratic display of tennis featuring 46 unforced errors and eight double-faults.
"A year ago, I would probably haven't been able to play solid tennis for nine matches as I've been doing.
"I felt a little flat today. I put two points together and would deflate for the next four. But I guess that's normal after playing so many matches in a row.
"But she made me work for it," added Sharapova, who was broken seven times by Dementieva and was forced to save six match points.
"She played really well defensively."
