New York, Sep 02: American Jennifer Capriati battled through three rain delays to advance to the quarter-finals of the US Open. The sixth seed defeated Russia's Elena Dementieva 6-7 7-5 in a match that took six hours and 37 minutes to complete.

Capriati got off to the perfect start, breaking the eleventh seed twice with some rasping forehands to storm to a 4-0 lead.

But after only 13 minutes the rain, which had already delayed the start of the day's play, returned and forced the players off court.
Over four hours later, the grey skies eased up to allow the pair to resume their contest on Arthur Ashe court.


Dementieva grabbed a break back but a poor second serve let her down and Capriati quickly took advantage to seal the first set.

The Russian began to find her rhythm in the second but more showers interrupted the even tempo of the match with Capriati leading 3-2.

After nearly an hour off court, Capriati broke Dementieva for a 4-2 lead, but her determination appeared to have wavered as the Russian broke back.

The eleventh seed stole another break to love to seize a 5-4 edge but Capriati, watched by her boyfriend, actor Matthew Perry, answered with her fifth service break of the match. The American then went on the attack, moving up to the net at every opportunity in a fine service game before closing out the match with a series of powerful forehands. Bureau Report