The ninth ranked Russian player Dinara Mikhailovna Safina lost out the chance of a rematch with compatriot Elena Dementieva after she was sent packing out from the third round of the ongoing Wimbledon tournament 7-5, 6-7, 8-6 by Shahar Peer of Israel on Saturday, June 28. Safina, who succeeded in reaching the final of the 2008 French Open, had neared within a point of defeat in successive tennis matches at Roland Garros earlier this month.

During Saturday’s game, she raised hopes of staging another major escape. In the match that was a mish mash of heated outbursts, code violations and medical timeouts, Dinara Safina managed to save up match points at 5-4 down during the second set as well as 6-5 down in the decider. Struggling due to a painful thigh, Dinara Safina had to finally limp out on the Israeli player’s fourth match point. Peer beat Safina in a game that lasted three hours and 25 minutes. In her next match, Shahar Peer will be pitched against Elena Dementieva of Russia.