Top-seeded Serena Williams lost 6-3, 6-1 to Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva in the Sydney International semifinals on Thursday.
Williams, ranked No. 2 in the world, saved three match points in her three-set quarter-final win over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark late Wednesday. Williams will head to Melbourne for next week’s Australian Open.
Dementieva will take on fellow Russian and No. 3-ranked Dinara Safina for the Sydney title, a rematch of the Beijing Olympics final.
Second-seeded Safina beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 7-6 (3).
