Dokic makes heavy weather of Danillidou

Jelena Dokic survived a tough test and a lengthy rain delay to reach the last four of the DFS Classic at Edgbaston yesterday.

The top seed was doubly relieved to see off the Greek world No 54 Elena Danillidou 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match cut into two by a bad weather interruption of more than four hours. Dokic said: "Luckily the weather cleared up and I knew if I got another break of serve it would be enough.

"The rain delay was a nightmare. Everybody was getting a little sleepy and when you go back on after half a match it isn't easy. But once I got back into my game I felt good."

Dokic had clawed her way back from 3-1 and three break points down in the first set and did the same in the second, recovering from 5-1 to 5-4 before light drizzle intervened to keep the teenage pair at bay. When they resumed, the powerful Danillidou served out to love at her second opportunity to level the match.

Dokic put the Danillidou serve under more pressure from the start of the deciding set and her powerful ground strokes gave her plenty of opportunities to snatch the break she needed. Danillidou held out until she had to serve to stay in the match. A lucky net cord presented Dokic with her first match point and she took it when the Greek hit a forehand inches long.

In Halle, Germany, Yevgeny Kafelnikov came from a set down to beat Bohdan Ulihrach in the quarter-finals of the Gerry Weber Open. The 28-year-old triumphed 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Nicolas Kiefer beat his fellow German Alexander Popp in straight sets to claim a semi-final place. The 25-year-old triumphed 7-5, 6-4 in their first meeting.

* Martina Navratilova has accepted the one remaining wild card into the singles draw at the Britannic Assurance Management Open at Eastbourne next week. The 46-year-old, a nine-times Wimbledon champion, has won at Eastbourne 10 times.