Russians eliminate Americans in semis

Russian women will decide the title after Dementieva and Kuznetsova eliminated Capriati and Davenport.

By Ben Walker ~ The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Elena Dementieva kept floating her funny serves, slow and spinning Frisbees more suited for table tennis than the hard courts at Flushing Meadows. And at the end, that was barely enough.

In a match that was more entertaining than well played, Dementieva somehow outlasted Jennifer Capriati 6-0, 2-6, 7-6 (5) Friday to set up all-Russian women's final at the U.S. Open.

The Open is the only Grand Slam event that goes to a final set tiebreaker, and that's where this one went. Capriati won a stirring, 49-stroke exchange early in the set, then let loose her only double-fault of the day to make it 6-all.

Dementieva won it on her second match point, and advanced to play Svetlana Kuznetsova for the championship today. Earlier, Kuznetsova became the first woman to reach the Open final when she beat a limping Lindsay Davenport 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

"Russians are here," Kuznetsova said after her win.

It will be the second all-Russian final at a major this year. Dementieva lost to Anastasia Myskina at the French Open, then Russian Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon.

The men's semis also will be today, with No. 28 Joachim Johansson against Lleyton Hewitt and top-seeded Roger Federer taking on Tim Henman.

This marks the first time since 1988 that no Americans will be in the finals at this tournament.

Fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium clearly rooted for the New York-born Capriati at the start. As the match moved along, highlighted by that 49-stroke exchange, the crowd was gasping, cheering and laughing -- often all at once.

"It's not easy to play Jennifer in New York," Dementieva said.

Dementieva hung on with 58 mph serves and will get a chance to win her first major title. Capriati, winner of three Grand Slam events, fell to 0-4 in semifinals at the Open and sobbed in the locker room, comforted by her mother.