Dementieva cruises into quarters

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) Number seven seed Elena Dementieva cruised into the Wimbledon quarter-finals today, overwhelming American Shenay Perry 6-2 6-0.

The match was a one-sided contest at a sun-baked Wimbledon with Perry, whose serve is normally her most powerful weapon, never able to get in an effective blow against the 24-year-old Russian.

The result made depressing reading for U.S. tennis. It is the first time since 1997 that no American woman has reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. It was the third time in three grand slams this year that just one American made week two.

The win was an immense relief for Dementieva who has reached the fourth round three times before at Wimbledon. But she will have to sharpen up her serve after five double faults today, if she is to progress further.

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