But considering how long it had been, how long she had worked to come back from the second surgery and how many butterflies had to be involved, she looked remarkably composed.
The 2004 champion, who had survived a tough fourth round battle against Flavia Pennetta, offered her seventh-seeded opponent few chances in a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
But Likhovtseva refused to surrender without a fight and broke to lead 3-1 in the second set before Dementieva rallied and booked her place in the next round against Shenay Perry.
