Dementieva advances Down Under

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elena Dementieva got off to a fast start as temperatures soared today, advancing to the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Olympic gold medalist wasted no time as temperatures hit 104 degrees, winning 16 of the first 18 points against the 20-year-old Spaniard.

She raced through the first five games in 22 minutes and, after eventually holding serve in a sixth game that went to deuce 11 times and lasted 17 minutes, finished off in 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Dementieva was having problems with her high service toss as she looked straight up into the midday sun, double-faulting four times in that long game.

She finished with 10 double faults.

Both players were soon draping towels packed with ice around their necks during changeovers and sought shade as long as possible behind the baselines between points.

Suarez Navarro, who had an upset second-round win over seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, tied her best run at a major — her quarterfinal debut at the last French Open.