Elena Dementieva

http://bit.ly/r71ceE

Thanks to Alla Kudryavtseva and Twitter we're learning that Elena Dementieva is getting married, according to the tweet I suppose on Saturday, July 16th. Dementieva's husband will be her long-time boyfriend, 31-year-old Maxim Afinogenov. He is a professional ice hockey player.

Adding to @paulmurphy's earlier post:

In an interview with Russian press, Elena Dementieva says "big changes" in her personal life are to follow her retirement from tennis last week.

Dementieva would not elaborate, saying the details were private, but added, "Of course I would like to have a family, children. That was one of the main reasons for my decision."

She has been in a relationship with NHL hockey player Maxim Afinogenov for several years.

Dementieva's post-tennis plans include doing television commentary and some studies at university in Moscow.

Having ended her career with an Olympic gold medal and two Grand Slam finals but no Grand Slam title, the 29-year-old Russian said, "I'm happy with my career, I don't feel like I have something unfinished."

oops, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK8MX0IIbcQ

Elena saying goodbye to tennis. Lots of tears!

Further to @Rafa's post:

Beijing Olympics champion Elena Dementieva announced her retirement after bowing out of the WTA Championships on Friday.

Dementieva, who struggled with injuries this year but still won two titles, was eliminated on Thursday from reaching the semifinals, and after losing to French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-2 she made her announcement in a tearful ceremony 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," the 29-year-old Dementieva said.

Her rivals lined up to pay tribute to Dementieva, whom they described as a tough fighter and a true professional.

"She has been one of the players I grew up with playing in juniors. It's nice to see her looking forward to something new in her life," Kim Clijsters said, holding back tears. "She has been one of the most professional players, one of the nicest girls on the court."

Compatriot Vera Zvonareva said she'd heard Dementieva talk about retiring during a year in which she overcame shoulder, calf and ankle problems to qualify for the elite WTA Championships for a 10th time.

"Elena is a great player and I think she has been great inspiration for a lot of young Russians," Zvonareva said. "She was a role model. I looked up to her. She had such a great career. Right now, the whole country will be sad and everyone will support her."

From AAP.

From AAP:

Russia's Elena Dementieva, suffering from a calf injury, announced Tuesday that she had been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon.
The world No.5 had to pull out of her semi-final at the French Open on June 3 because of the tear in her left calf and said on her website that she would not be ready in time for Wimbledon, which starts Monday.

Dementieva latest: "I just have a tear in my left calf, so it's very painful to even walk," said Dementieva.
"I got it after my second match, so I just, you know, aggravated it during these matches."

Dementieva, who also had her thigh taped during the quarterfinal and was reported to also be struggling with her ankle. "I don't want to get into the details. Yeah, let's just leave it with my calf," said Dementieva. "I did everything I could, but it just was a bit too much.

"I was very close to stop the match in my third round with Aleksandra [Wozniack], but I was able to win this one.

"I was waking up every morning and couldn't make a first step. You know, it was that painful. But I really wanted to play because it's a very special tournament for me."

The Russian, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year, said she did not know if she would be able to take part in the tournament this year.
"I'm not going to Eastbourne because of this injury," she said. "I don't even know if I will be playing in Wimbledon."

From press conference at Rome today:

“This is my first tournament on the way here so I'm just trying to play more matches as possible to get some practice for the French Open. I think it's important for anyone to focus on the clay court season and I'm just trying to get my game up and get used to practising by the time that Paris will start and get into good shape. I wasn't able to play in Stuttgart because of the Fed Cup, and the best preparation is playing matches and that is the reason why I am playing these tournaments (Rome, Warsaw and Madrid).”

TOP seed Elena Dementieva insists she is fit and raring to get into action in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Malaysia International Open after recovering from a right shoulder injury.

"My shoulder is much better. I had treatment in Dubai and it is fine now. It feels good," said the Russian at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort (BKECR) yesterday.

"This is my second time in Kuala Lumpur, after last year's exhibition match, and I hope to win the title. It will be tough as there are many good players here," said Elena, a winner of 16 WTA Tour titles.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/70ajittens1/Article/index_html

Dementieva will have her right shoulder attended to this week after retiring against Hantuchova in Dubai. Her next engagement is yet to be confirmed.