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Elena Dementieva Ready For Family
By Sean Rudolph
© WTA, Henk Abbink
(November 3, 2010) The end of Elena Dementieva's tennis career could signal the start of a new family. The 29-year-old Dementieva says the primary reason for her retirement is her desire to have children and start a family.
"I don't want to give all the details because these are very private, intimate things," Dementieva said in comments published by Reuters. "But I have to admit I've made a decision to quit mainly because I want to start a family, have kids."
There is speculation Dementieva will marry long-time boyfriend 31-year-old NHL wing Maxim Afinogenov of the Buffalo Sabres and start a family. Some speculate the pair are already engaged.
The former World No. 3 said reaching the decision to retire was difficult, but insists she will not return to the WTA.
"It was a very difficult and emotional but if I decided to quit that was it. I'm not coming back," Dementieva said.
Dementieva has always said family was a central foundation of her life, and three-time US Open champion Kim Clijsters, who took time out from tennis to start a family, suggests Dementieva may be ready for motherhood.
"The emotions with her mother — you see the bond that that they have (and) they traveled for so many years together — you have so many great successes, but also some bad moments in a career," Clijsters said. "To be able to share that with the person you probably care about the most (is special). She is ready for a new chapter of her life. She's probably gonna start a family and do all that stuff."
Dementieva called it quits last week, officially retiring after her 6-4, 6-2 loss to Francesca Schiavone at the WTA Championships, to conclude a 13-year career in which she never mastered a major but gained major respect for her determination and disposition.
"I want to thank everyone who has supported me through my career, including the WTA, all of the tournaments and the staff, all of the WTA players I have had the pleasure of playing with, the sponsors that are so important for our sport, my mother Vera and my family and of course, the fans that have been there for me through the years," said Dementieva. "While I look forward to the next chapter of my life, I will miss all of you very much."
Dementieva, who grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor before opting to pursue a career in tennis, turned professional in 1998, solidified her status as a standout by reaching the 2002 US Open final in just her second Flushing Meadows appearance and won her first WTA event at Amelia Island in 2003. She won 576 of her 849 matches, capturing 16 WTA titles, including two this year at the Medibank International (Sydney) and the Open GDF Suez (Paris) and earning more than $14 million in prize money.
One of the most consistent players in the history of the sport, Dementieva competed in 46 consecutive Grand Slams (the longest streak of any active woman), only missing this year’s Wimbledon after having to withdraw with a calf injury. Dementieva became the first player from Russia ever to reach the semifinals of the US Open and was part of the historic first all-Russian Grand Slam final at 2004 Roland Garros, losing to Anastasia Myskina.
The level of respect and high regard fellow players have for Dementieva was on display as several players, including Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Lisa Raymond and Gisela Dulko, wiped away tears while Dementieva addressed the crowd in Doha.
"It's a very special moment (because) this is my last tournament," Dementieva said.
Dementieva qualified for the season-ending WTA Championships 10 times, reaching the semifinals in 2000 and 2008. A three-time member of the Russian Olympic team, Dementieva is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won the gold in Beijing (2008) — which she considers her greatest achievement — and silver in Sydney (2000). Dementieva also represented Russia in 18 Fed Cup ties, leading them to victory in 2005.
The two-time Grand Slam finalist started this season on a 10-1 tear, beating Serena Williams to win Sydney in her first tournament of the year and topping Lucie Safarova to claim the Paris Indoors in her third event of the season.
A capable competitor on all surfaces, Dementieva reached at least the semifinals of three of the four majors — Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — highlighted by her 2004 season in which she lost to Myskina in the French Open final then fell to compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the 2004 US Open final.
Tennis Now caught up with Dementieva earlier this season for a video interview. To view the video interview please click Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
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