Dementieva honest after defeat

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva admitted she was not ready physically for the French Open after being bundled out of the tournament.

The Russian, 27, won the first two titles of the season - in Auckland and Sydney - before making the semi-finals at the Australian Open, but her form has dipped since then.

She has been far from her best at Roland Garros and was lucky to get through the second round, when opponent Jelena Dokic was forced to retire through injury when a set and a break up.

Dementieva failed to make the most of that reprieve as she was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-1 on Philippe Chatrier court by another Australian, Samantha Stosur, who is a doubles specialist.

Dementieva said: "I just feel I'm far away from being in the right shape. I don't feel I could perform any better.

"I was not ready to play at the level I want to play. I was trying to be positive and fight for every match, but it's a very physical game when it comes to clay so it's not good for me.

"I'm just getting older, I guess. I have to work on my physical condition to get in better shape."

Stosur, the 30th seed, makes the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in singles. She won the women's doubles here in 2006 with Lisa Raymond.

"If I can keep playing the way I have been, anything is possible," said Stosur, who will next play France's Virginie Razzano.

"I felt good out there. I wasn't too nervous or anything."

Razzano is the second Frenchwoman to make the fourth round, along with Aravane Rezai, thanks to her 7-5 7-5 victory over Tathiana Garbin.

Dementieva's compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova had no such problems on Suzanne Lenglen court.

The seventh seed demolished Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-1 6-3 and has only dropped 11 games all tournament.

She is the only player to have defeated Dinara Safina, the favourite for the title here, on clay this season - in the final in Stuttgart at the start of May - and she is delighted with her current form.

"I don't know why it's just all happened," the runner-up at the French Open in 2006.

"I have been working hard and I love to play on clay. My game is very effective playing on clay.

"I'm not thinking about my (title) chances but I know I can play great. The main thing is to keep focused."

Kuznetsova next plays 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, the Pole who beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 6-4 today.

Elsewhere, 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak was a 6-2 3-6 6-3 winner over Lourdes Dominguez Lino and will now play either Serena Williams or Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

In the other half of the draw, ninth seed Victoria Azarenka set up a last-16 meeting with reigning champion Ana Ivanovic after beating 22nd seed Carla Suarez Navarro 5-7 7-5 6-2.

The pair resumed this afternoon after finishing at one set all last night.

Up close and personal with Elena Dementieva

Here at Rolandgarros.com we know you love to get an insight into the real person behind the tennis star facade. Here, in the fourth of a series of quick-fire lifestyle interviews, Elena Dementieva reveals her love of reading and beach volleyball. When was the last time you cracked up laughing? Oh I’m always laughing at something. What gets you annoyed? When I have to train in the rain or in the cold. I hate that. Which actress would you choose to play you on screen? Gwyneth Paltrow. I think she looks a little like me, don’t you think? What’s the best film you’ve seen recently? “Meet the Parents” with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. What’s the best concert you’ve seen? Recently I attended the Eurovision song contest in Moscow. I was cheering on French singer Patricia Kaas! She’s really popular in Russia. Who’s your sporting idol? Roger Federer. Who’s your best friend on the tennis circuit? My mother. What’s your favourite sport outside tennis? Beach volleyball. I got the chance to play in an exhibition game in Russia. I love that sport. Which part of your game would you like to improve? My serve perhaps. Even though I’ve made a lot of progress these last few years, I’d really like to improve even more. What’s your favourite website? The WTA tour website What’s the last thing you do before you go to sleep? I read a book. Right now I’m reading one by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. Who would be your ideal partner for mixed doubles? Roger Federer. I’ve played against him before in an exhibition match in Hong Kong. What’s the worst thing that could happen to you before a match? Forgetting my racquets. Once I couldn’t find them and I got so stressed out.

Dementieva packs her bags

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva ran out of luck at the French Open after she was sent packing by Australian doubles specialist Samantha Stosur.

The Russian, 27, was a set and a break down to another Australian, Jelena Dokic, in round two when the former world number four was forced to quit because of injury.

Dementieva failed to make the most of that reprieve as she was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-1 on Philippe Chatrier court by Stosur, the 30th seed who makes the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in singles.

Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up, was facing a straight-sets defeat when she was broken twice in a row at the start of the second, but she recovered to take the match to a decider.

However, she started the third set in exactly the same manner and this time Stosur, who won the women's doubles at the French Open in 2006 with Lisa Raymond, made her pay.

She took a 4-0 then 5-1 lead, and clinched victory on her second match point when she nailed a cross-court forehand.

Dementieva's compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova had no such problems on Suzanne Lenglen court.

The seventh seed demolished Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-1 6-3 and has only dropped 11 games all tournament.

Dementieva honest after defeat

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva admitted she was not ready physically for the French Open after being bundled out of the tournament.

The Russian, 27, won the first two titles of the season - in Auckland and Sydney - before making the semi-finals at the Australian Open, but her form has dipped since then.

She has been far from her best at Roland Garros and was lucky to get through the second round, when opponent Jelena Dokic was forced to retire through injury when a set and a break up.

Dementieva failed to make the most of that reprieve as she was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-1 on Philippe Chatrier court by another Australian, Samantha Stosur, who is a doubles specialist.

Dementieva said: "I just feel I'm far away from being in the right shape. I don't feel I could perform any better.

"I was not ready to play at the level I want to play. I was trying to be positive and fight for every match, but it's a very physical game when it comes to clay so it's not good for me.

"I'm just getting older, I guess. I have to work on my physical condition to get in better shape."

Stosur, the 30th seed, makes the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in singles. She won the women's doubles here in 2006 with Lisa Raymond.

"If I can keep playing the way I have been, anything is possible," said Stosur, who will next play France's Virginie Razzano.

"I felt good out there. I wasn't too nervous or anything."

Razzano is the second Frenchwoman to make the fourth round, along with Aravane Rezai, thanks to her 7-5 7-5 victory over Tathiana Garbin.

Dementieva's compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova had no such problems on Suzanne Lenglen court.

The seventh seed demolished Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-1 6-3 and has only dropped 11 games all tournament.

She is the only player to have defeated Dinara Safina, the favourite for the title here, on clay this season - in the final in Stuttgart at the start of May - and she is delighted with her current form.

"I don't know why it's just all happened," the runner-up at the French Open in 2006.

"I have been working hard and I love to play on clay. My game is very effective playing on clay.

"I'm not thinking about my (title) chances but I know I can play great. The main thing is to keep focused."

Kuznetsova next plays 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, the Pole who beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 6-4 today.

Elsewhere, 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak was a 6-2 3-6 6-3 winner over Lourdes Dominguez Lino and will now play either Serena Williams or Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

In the other half of the draw, ninth seed Victoria Azarenka set up a last-16 meeting with reigning champion Ana Ivanovic after beating 22nd seed Carla Suarez Navarro 5-7 7-5 6-2.

The pair resumed this afternoon after finishing at one set all last night.

A disappointed Elena Dementieva talks to the press

Dementieva Elena

No4 seed Elena Dementieva was knocked out by Australia's Samantha Stosur on Saturday.

A disappointed Elena Dementieva goes out in the third round.

Elena Dementieva went out to No30 Samantha Stosur in three sets.