ELENA DEMENTIEVA FLEWTO ISTANBUL Bestu€Ffiffiffi from to Compete in One of Her First Professional Tournaments

,' ,/',,; , ,'/' f;/ JUST BEFORE HERI6TH BIRTHDAY RUSSIAN TENNIS PLAYER ELENA DEMENTIEVA FLEWTO ISTANBUL BEStu€ffiffiffi From to compete in one of her first professional tournaments. #F played players .%F#ffiT She wel , beating several respected and getting through to the semi-finals. Then her mother Russia "She dropped some surprisinq news. told me that we oniy had one-way tickets, that her money had run out, and that if I didn't win to love the competition we couldn't get back to Moscow" says Elena, who seems to "So you see the funnv side of the story now. you might say that I was under a bit of lf think that pressure. But luckily I won the singles and the doubles tournaments, and we Elena Dementieva had enough money for the flights home - and for the next tournament too." It's a story that h ghlights manyaspects of thewinninglyambitious and looks good on attractively stellar career of the 23-year-old. Not only does it show the sand, you should dedication of her parents - Elena's family background was modest, and her gave up herjob as a teacher to concentrate on her daughter's career see her on grass mother E,.. - but also the skill, determination and characterthat was forged at an early ,.n\"-, age withrn the ruthlessly competitive Russian tennis system. .' !E- $Sir). \E- -*r - H* |":, rT tr *1*,* ,.- &l&': JULY 2OO5 ESOUIRE 19 ln the intervening years, her Unafraid to show her emotions You canludge foryourself this driving forehand, devastating two- on court, Elena is equally engaging month at Wimbledon, though it has handed backhand and stinging in conversation. She is spirited, not been, it must be said, her most attacking approach to the game confident, talented (she speaks successful tournament, She has never have helped her soar up the rankings, fluent English and French), fiercely progressed past the first week, and reaching number four in the world proud of her country (despite last year crashed out in the first round. year "lt's last Having already triumphed lucrative coaching offers abroad, she strange that I haven't done at four events on the women's tour is almosL alone among her peers in better there because the fust courts and won a silvermedalatthe2OOO continurng to Iive and train in Russia), suit my game," she says. "But l've Olympics, shewas runner-up in both and fun. ln the post-Anna Kournikova improved a lot in the past yearand year: lhe French and US Opens last marketing era, tall, blonde, blue-eyed, I certainly believe I can win U o coquettishly ponytailed Elena knows Wimbledon. That s the only reason how to play the game away from the I am playing:to be Number Onel'@ F F baseline as well. When you pay her The Wimbledon Championships run U o the compliment that she could be 20June-3July mistaken for Claudia Schiffer she falls "lthink atk- silentfora moment. I look ''',-* betterl" she replies, flashing a smile. ,+,&" ffi* &ir -<e*.ii; ffiE FeF ,$( IJ\,i t t; : - ,"r€' -y'r 20 ESOUIRE JULY 2OO5.

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