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Introducing Elena
Evian are proud to be sponsoring Elena Dementieva at this year’s Wimbledon Championships. Elena is established as one of the game’s best players and has fans all around the world. If you’re one of them, you can find out more about her below. We’ll also be sharing her interviews with you throughout the Championships, so make sure you come back and visit.
- Birth Date: 10/15/81
- Hometown: Moscow, Russia
- Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight:140 lbs
- Hair colour: Blond
- Current WTA Ranking: 4 (18/05/09)
- Highest Ranking: 3 (07/05/09)
- Accomplishments: 10 Singles Titles; Gold Medal Beijing Olympics 2008; Silver Medal Sydney Olympics 2000; US Open and Roland Garros Finalist 2004
- Awards: Russian Female of the Year Award 2001
- TV/Magazines: Oriflame, Beeline Commercials; Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Esquire, New York Times Magazine
- Enjoys skiing, literature, fashion and cooking
- Travels with mom and coach, Vera; father, Viatcheslav is an electrical engineer; older brother Vsevolod is also an engineer
- Adores all animals and has a Yorkshire Terrier, Patrick
- Fluent in Russian, French and English
- Graduated from a French School in 1998
- Loves visiting New York City
Elena Dementieva Biography
Born October 15, 1981 in Moscow, Elena Dementieva was about to become part of a new wave of Russian tennis. Her parents, Viatcheslav, an electrical engineer, and Vera, a teacher, both loved the game. So they tried to enrol Elena and her brother in a number of top clubs in Moscow. Competition was fierce at the time and both Dynamo and the Central Red Army Club turned her down - citing minor imperfections in her movement. Finally, she was accepted by the illustrious Spartak Club.
Elena's three years under her coach, Rauza Islanova, were tough. It was this toughness that forged Elena's will to win. She had a very successful domestic career and always ranked within the top four women in her country - alongside Anna Kournikova, Ekaterina Sysoeva, and Anastasia Myskina.
After eventually being accepted at the Central Red Army Club, Elena transformed her technique and developed her, now famous, crushing two-handed backhand. On August 25, 1998, she turned professional.
Her rise in the sport was electrifying. Ranking #182 in 1998, she climbed to #62 in 1999, eventually reaching #12 in 2000. That year she represented Russia in the Sydney Olympics where she played brilliantly but was beaten by Venus Williams in the final. Elena went on to be named Most Improved Player at the Sanex WTA awards.
Her rise in the sport was electrifying. Ranking #182 in 1998, she climbed to #62 in 1999, and hit #12 in 2000. That year she represented Russia in the Sydney Olympics where she played brilliantly but was beaten by Venus Williams in the final. Elena did, however, go on to be named Most Improved Player at the Sanex WTA awards
2003 was her breakthrough year. In April, at the Bausch & Lomb Championships, Elena won her first WTA title, beating Lindsay Davenport in the final. Then, in September, she recorded two more victories - in Bali and Shanghai - before finishing the year ranked #8. Since then Elena has gone from strength to strength winning 13 titles worldwide, including a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Performance Record
Grand Slams
Olympics
- Gold Medal, Beijing, 2008
- Silver, Sydney, 2000
U.S. Open, Flushing Meadows, New York
- Finalist, 2004
- Semifinalist, 2008, 2005 & 2000
- Quarterfinalist, 2006
Roland Garros, Paris, France
- Finalist 2004
- Quarterfinalist, 2008
The Championships, Wimbledon, Great Britain
- Semifinalist, 2008
- Quarterfinalist, 2006
Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia
Pro Career Highlights
Champion, Medibank International
Champion, ASB Classic
- Auckland, New Zealand, 2009
Champion, FORTIS Championships
- Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 2008
Champion, Barclays Dubai Championships
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2008
Champion, Kremlin Cup
Champion, Istanbul Cup
Champion, East West Bank Classic
- Los Angeles, California, 2006
Champion, Toray Pan Pacific Open
Champion, Gaz de France Stars
Champion, Polo Open
Champion, Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic
Champion, Bausch & Lomb Championships
- Amelia Island, Florida, 2003
Finalist, GDF SUEZ
Finalist, Istanbul Cup
Finalist, Qatar German Open
Finalist, Pacific Life Open
- Indian Wells, California, 2006
Semifinalist, Family Circle Cup
Russian Fed Cup Team
- 1999, 2001-2003, 2005-2006, 2009
Russian Olympic Team
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