Wozniacki Squeaks By Dementieva in Pilot Penn

With grunts coming at the end from both players, exhaustion ignored for the importance not only for this tournament but also the US Open next week, the two players battled on in the semi-finals of the Pilot Pen tournament tonight.

Despite her first set win 6-1, Elena Dementieva was clearly uncertain in the second losing to Caroline Wozniacki 6-3. It was the third set, however, that made this one of the great matches this year in women's tennis.

From winners at the net to winners from the baselines, the third set saw a back and forth match between two equal foes. Drop shot winners, winners up the lines, and increasing power from both masked the quieter returns and serves designed to increase accuracy and deny as much power in the return as might occur on the second serves.

When Dementieva won a point with a double drop shot, returning Wozniacki's drop shot for a drop shot winner of her own, the tempo seemed well in hand for Dementieva. But her mother-coach seemed more nervous of the outcome and more uncertain as the match progressed. Never seeming comfortable throughout the last games and tie-breaker, she seemed to pull the strength and will away from Dementieva right when she should have been giving support.

In the end, with a tie-breaker, Wozniacki seemed ready to lose and then came back, bringing her tie-break record to 6-1 in winning these semi-finals. A likely win in the finals of the Pilot Pen is next. 

The commentators continued to press the fact that Dementieva lacked mental toughness. It seemed clear that she did not, but her mother-coach did.

Dementieva lost this great match because of her mother. She should learn how to show support rather than concern.

Otherwise, Dementieva's mother would do well to not be present at the US Open.

And that is The Real Truth.