Elena Dementieva

Elena Dementieva grew up in Moscow, Russia where she was raised by her supportive parents Viatcheslav and Vera Dementieva. Dementieva’s parents were very active in her tennis and did everything they could to get her the best training that they could afford.

After being turned down from the Dynamo Sports Club and Central Red Army Tennis Club, Dementieva went on to attend Spartak Tennis Club which turned out very well. Dementieva attended Spartak for three years and then ironically she moved to The Central Red Army Tennis Club after they rejected her three years prior. At the age of 11, Dementieva's Mother became her primary coach and she still coaches her to this day.

After turning professional in 1998, Dementieva didn’t play in a Grand Slam event until 2000, when she teamed up with partner Janette Husarova and they came in second after a loss to Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarz at the U.S Open. Dementieva once again made it to the U.S Open doubles championship in 2005 when she and partner Flavia Pennetta came in runner up to Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.

In singles, Dementieva has been runner up twice, both in 2004, once at the French Open and once at the U.S Open. Dementieva has also found success in the Olympic Games. At the 2002 Olympic Games in Sydney, Dementieva won a silver medal after she was defeated by Venus Williams. Dementieva eventually did get her gold medal in 2008 at the Beijing Summer Olympics when she defeated Dinara Safina.