TENNIS Serena Williams exceeds goal in comeback from long layoff

She will play Elena Dementieva for the Nasdaq-100 Open title.
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) -- With one match yet to play, Serena Williams already accomplished her primary goal at the Nasdaq-100 Open.
"What I didn't want to do is lose in the first round of my first tournament back," she said.
Williams has far exceeded that modest achievement, going 5-0 since returning last week after an eight-month layoff.
She'll try to win her third Key Biscayne title in a row Saturday against No. 5 Elena Dementieva, who upset Venus Williams in the quarterfinals.
Williams advanced Thursday by beating No. 25 Eleni Daniilidou 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.
"As far as I've gotten is a major confidence boost," Williams said. "I really, really am proud of myself because it's hard to come back. It's nerve-racking."
Dementieva won an all-Russian semifinal Thursday night, beating No. 8 Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-2.
Men
Andy Roddick and Vince Spadea advanced to the Key Biscayne semifinals for the first time and will meet tonight. The No. 2-seeded Roddick came from behind twice and took advantage of some shaky late play by No. 5 Carlos Moya to win 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
"I feel like I've cheesed through a couple of matches this week," Roddick said. "But I'm still alive, and hopefully we can make something of it this weekend."
Spadea beat Roddick last month en route to his first career title in Scottsdale, Ariz., at age 29. The unseeded American won for the 11th time in his past 12 matches by beating No. 20 Agustin Calleri 7-5, 6-1.
"I feel like my game is always improving," Spadea said. "I just look to fight hard so I can let it evolve."
No. 3 Guillermo Coria and No. 21 Fernando Gonzalez were to play in the other semifinal.
Williams has played Dementieva only once, beating her in straight sets en route to the Wimbledon title last year.
"I think she has the best serve on the tour, so I'm going to be in trouble on her serve," Dementieva said.
The Russian may also be in trouble when she serves. It's the weakest part of her game, and she has three aces and 48 double faults in five matches at Key Biscayne.
Williams' return game is perhaps the best on the women's tour, while Dementieva's second serve rarely reaches 70 mph.
"I think it's going to be too slow for her," Dementieva said with a smile. "It's going to be kind of a drop shot for her."