Olympic Champion Elena Dementieva made a surprise announcement that she is retiring at the age of 29 after losing her last group match at the year-end WTA Tour Championships in Doha on Friday. She is seen here in the photo wiping away some tears after her announcement.
The World No. 9 ranked player has given up her bid to win a Grand Slam. Since 1999, she had competed in 46 consecutive Grand Slams until she missed this year’s Wimbledon because of a calf injury. She reached the final of the French Open and the U.S. Open in 2004, but was unable to win the final match. Her career high season-ending ranking was No. 4 in 2008.
Dementieva struggled with injuries this year but still won two titles. She was eliminated on Thursday from reaching the semifinals, and after losing to French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 6-2, she made her tearful announcement surrounded by her peers, with her mother Vera courtside.
“It is so emotional. It is so hard to say goodbye. I am going to miss you so much,” Dementieva said. “When I talked to my family about this decision I was ready for them to support me, but they were very surprised… They said you can play a couple of years and win many tournaments – but if you feel this way you have to make this decision. I think no one was really happy about it except my boyfriend!” That hinted, as Dementieva confirmed, at her hope to start a family.
She finishes her career with a 576-273 win-loss record, and a place in the year-end top 10 for the seventh time in eight years. The tennis community will miss her. We hope for the very best for her in her retirement.
