Elena's Best Moments
Published October 29, 2010 12:00
A 16-year-old Dementieva turned pro on August 25, 1998. She played her first Grand Slam qualifying at that year's US Open.
Dementieva's first year on the Russian Fed Cup team came in 1999. She beat Venus Williams for their only point in the final.
Dementieva reached her first Grand Slam semi at the 2000 US Open, the first Russian ever to make it that far in New York.
Dementieva won her first Olympic medal at Sydney in 2000, making it to the final and collecting silver.
Dementieva played her first WTA Championships in 2000, stunning Lindsay Davenport en route to the semis.
Dementieva was a fixture among the upper echelon, qualifying for the WTA Championships 10 of 11 years.
Dementieva also won six doubles titles - including the WTA Championships in 2002 with Janette Husarova.
Dementieva won her first three singles titles in 2003, at Amelia Island in the spring and at Bali and Shanghai in the fall.
Dementieva reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open in 2004, beating French star Amelie Mauresmo en route.
In the first all-Russian Grand Slam final, Dementieva was runner-up to Anastasia Myskina at the 2004 French Open.
Dementieva reached her second Grand Slam final at the 2004 US Open, finishing runner-up to Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Dementieva went 3-0 in Russia's 3-2 win over France in the 2005 Fed Cup final, two singles and one doubles victory.
One of Dementieva's proudest wins was one of her 16 career singles titles at Moscow in 2007, beating Serena Williams.
Eight years after the silver in Sydney, Dementieva beat Dinara Safina for the Olympic gold medal at Beijing in 2008.
Dementieva considers the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008 her greatest career achievement as a tennis player.
Dementieva made the semis or better at Grand Slams nine times, including the thrilling 2009 Wimbledon semifinal.
Dementieva's 16th and final WTA title came in Paris in February 2010, where she beat Lucie Safarova in the final.
Dementieva's final Grand Slam was the 2010 US Open, where she had four match points on Sam Stosur in the 16s.
After her last match at the WTA Championships - Doha 2010, Elena Dementieva announced her retirement on court.
Elena Dementieva thanked and hugged her mother and longtime coach, Vera, during her retirement ceremony.
