While Venus kept that dream alive by stroking winners with the relaxed air of a woman on a sun-lounger sipping a Pina Colada, Serena could not believe what had hit her.

In a match featuring sinew-stretching rallies, crafty angles and thundering serves, Dementieva completely neutralised Serena's power game to take the first set.

But Serena broke the spell to gallivant into a 3-1 lead only to see the Russian defy logic and come back stronger and harder at her.

Since the American's forehand "didn't show up today and went on vacation to Hawaii" she turned to her B-plan, to try and play round her erring stroke.

Just when it seemed as the second set would head into a tiebreak, Serena struck lucky with two identical netcords -- with Dementieva's forehands bouncing off the tape and wide -- to break for a 6-5 lead.

The Russian had four chances to break back in the next game but was undone by two venomous Serena aces and two errant shots from her own racket, much to the dismay of the shrieking Dementieva who crouched down behind the baseline and covered her face in disbelief.

Still the Russian would not give up but could do little when her 3-1 lead in the third set disappeared in a blink of the eye as Serena roared herself on to stay in the match.

At 3.40 pm local time, Dementieva looked to have one foot in the final but then her head started to spin and 23 minutes later Serena had completed one of her greatest ever escape acts.

... contd.