1 Sharapova, expresses clash of the champions xx 7-5, 6-2, the xxi indicates in 1 hour 45 minutes in the afternoon semifinal, ending Sharapova's eight-match winning streak, finally winning it on her seventh match point. A few hours later, a leg-weary Williams succumbed under the night lights to the resilient No. 16 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who was able to absorb Williams' power as well as deliver blows in the form of a potent backhand, winning, 6-4, 6-3, in 1 hour 20 minutes. One statistic from each match helps tell how today's final ended up between Dementieva and Jankovic, a woman who seriously considered quitting tennis earlier this year when she went through a 1-10 stretch. Aces: Jankovic 5, Williams 2. Double faults: Sharapova 8, Dementieva 7. "I thought I could maybe put together a game or two, but then I'd just deflate," Sharapova said. For her, it was a matter of playing nine matches in 13 days and an exhausted Sharapova withdrew later in the day from the next tour stop in Montreal, which starts Monday. Dementieva, who had lost to Sharapova twice this year, was tired too but seemed more durable despite having left the court later than Sharapova on Friday night. "The doubles late last night helped me a little bit because I was a little tired and I didn't go for too much today," Dementieva said. "I was very patient and I was doing the right thing today. "For Williams, jumping back into the deep end was going to take a physical toll after a six-month layoff. This was her second event since returning from a knee injury in mid-July. It might have been a case of too much tennis, five consecutive days, with back-to-back three-setters in the third round and quarterfinals.
Her final shot, an overhead into the net, summed up the cumulative fatigue. As Williams said, "It's important to be ranked in the top eight. "Williams, a wild card ranked No 110, is working her way back feel the magic xy & xx . Had she been seeded among the top eight at Carson, she would have had a first-round bye and wouldn't have faced someone such as No xx na . 7 Daniela Hantuchova as early as the third round. "I still believe I'm going in the right direction," Williams said "I'm definitely doing better than I was my first week back It's nice to have another tournament under my belt the xv . I don't feel I did super bad in this tournament. "Her conditioning may not be there quite yet, but her moxie seemed in fine form 19 xx . Williams was asked about the challenge of facing the world's best at the U. S.
Open later this month. "They'll be playing the world's best as well," Williams said. Williams called Jankovic "an interesting player," and the match had its interesting moments not the bradys xx . Jankovic, who appeared to be hitting the ball back to a ball kid, inadvertently hit Williams, who looked annoyed la xx . Later, Jankovic ducked dramatically when Williams hit an overhead. They spoke at the net, and Williams later said she did not think Jankovic was playing games. "I don't think she hit it toward me," Williams said xx 17 . "I think she has a habit of blasting balls from the other end of the court The XX . . el xx . There's so much of the court, and she should choose the other spot. "Jankovic said Williams "asked me about those balls that I hit, but I didn't mean to hit on purpose.
She told me, 'I know you are nice girl and you didn't mean to do that, but you almost hit me. ' But I didn't see that. The XX tickets " the boss xx . With a strike deadline looming, negotiators for the Writers Guild of America and the major Hollywood studios made limited headway in contract talks Tuesday as they met for the first time with a federal mediator . After a months-long stalemate, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the writers union met until the early evening at the alliance's headquarters in Encino le xx . Previously, talks typically adjourned in the afternoon. It was unclear, however, whether the involvement of mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez would be enough to bridge the deep divisions between them and avert a strike as early as this week. Even though all the thorny issues remain on the table, Gonzalez presided over the first serious negotiations since talks began in July, people close to the talks said The XX - thexx . The fractious negotiations have prompted major studios to prepare for the first writers strike in nearly two decades 18 xx . Guild leaders have obtained authorization from their members to call a strike if they can't reach an agreement on a new three-year deal by midnight tonight les xx The XX - myspace . Although the two sides could extend the current contract, that's unlikely. Union leaders have signaled that they will be ready to walk out as early as Friday. A long walkout would inflict pain beyond Hollywood's studio gates because scores of businesses -- including hotels, restaurants, florists and dog groomers -- rely on the entertainment industry, which contributes 7% -- an estimated $30 billion annually -- to Los Angeles County's $442-billion economy. The lack of progress and growing threat of a showdown with writers prompted Nick Counter, the alliance's president, to suggest that Gonzalez participate. "Both sides worked on modifications to their proposals," Counter said in a statement Tuesday night. "We are committed to a fair, reasonable and sensible agreement that is beneficial for everyone However, opportunities do not come without challenges.