Dementieva makes Den Bosch quarters before rain arrives

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands, June 21 (Reuters) Russian top seed Elena Dementieva beat compatriot Elena Vesnina 6-1 4-6 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Ordina Open today before play was stopped by rain.

World number eight Dementieva struggled to hold serve against her 19-year-old opponent, allowing a break when she was serving for the match at 5-2 in the final set at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

''It wasn't easy. I played my first grasscourt match and it just takes time to adjust to the surface,'' Dementieva told reporters.

''It's amazing how quick the situation can change, you have to be focused on every single point.'' The 24-year-old, runner-up at Indian Wells this year, will next meet Serbia and Montenegro's fifth seed Ana Ivanovic who defeated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-3 7-5.

''Tomorrow it will be very important for me to hold my serve,'' Dementieva said. ''It's al about holding serve. If you can hold serve, it's going to be a tie-breaker match.'' Defending champion Czech Klara Koukalova and Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek, who upset third seed Flavia Pennetta this week, were tied 2-2 when play was suspended.

In the men's event, Austria's Jurgen Melzer was leading number seven seed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4 2-1.

REUTERS DH PM2044