Elena Dementieva Retires: Farewell to One of the True Tennis Hotties

Elena Dementieva retired today, a surprising announcement for the 29-year-old. 

She never reached the type of off-the-court fame as Anna Kournakova. Nor did she achieve the type of on-the-court excellence as Venus Williams or Kim Clijsters.

Nor did she become the duel threat of both that Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

But Dementieva had her moments, both on and off the court, and the tennis world must say goodbye to one of the decades great hotties.

Another Link iN Russia's Female Tennis Chain of Excellence

Dementieva was born in Moscow on October 15, 1981, just a few years before fellow Russian future stars Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina, and Vera Zvonareva.

Greatest Achievement

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Dementieva's most significant achievement in tennis came at the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008.

In the quarterfinals, she trailed Serena Williams, then came back and advanced to the semis, where she , ousted fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva.

In the finals she defeated another countrywoman, Dinara Safina to win the Gold medal, eight years after she took home a Silver at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Early Amateur Success

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Dementieva won her first international match as a 13-year-old at the prestigious Petits As junior tournament in Tarbes, France.

A year later, in 1998, she turned pro.

Highest Ranking Ever

In the spring of 2009, Dementieva reached the pinnacle of her professional career.

She won two consecutive tournaments, the ASB Classic and Medibank International (both in Australia), the second of which she defeated Serena Williams in the semis.

That earned her a third spot in the WTA world rankings.

Fed Cup Excellence

In the Fed Cup (the womens version of the Davis Cup) Russia dominated during the mid-2000s.

From 2004 through 2008, the Team Russia won four of the five Fed Cups contested, largely thanks to Dementieva. Her singles record during that time was 20-6.

A Near-Victory In The US Open

Dementieva reached the 2004 finals of the US Open.

The sixth seed defeated Amélie Mauresmo and Jennifer Capriatti, setting up a center court showdown against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

She lost 6-3, 7-5 on the hard clay at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Not Tennis Lolita

Despite the occasional sexy photo shoot, tennis championships were Dementieva's one main career goal:

"I am not at all tempted by the title of 'Tennis Lolita,'" she once said. "I am trying to prove myself on the court and not off the court."

Runner-Up At French Open

Two months before she reach the grand slam finals at the US Open, Dementieva did the same on the clay courts at Roland Garos in Paris.

A ninth-seed, she topped Amélie Mauresmo then walloped Paola Suárez (6-0, 7-6) in the semis to reach the finals.

Against fellow Moscow-born 23-year-old, Anastasia Myskina, she lost 6-1, 6-2.

16 WTA Singles Victories

During her 12-year professional career, Dementieva won 16 WTA singles titles.

Among her greatest victories were:

-2010 Medibank win, defeating Serena Williams in the finals

-2006 Toray Pan Pacific Open, defeating Martina Hingis in the finals

-her first WTA title, a 2003 Bausch & Lomb title, in which she defeated Lindsay Davenport in the Finals.

Russian Tennis Star Dates Hockey Player? No Way!

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As of 2008, Dementieva was dating former Buffalo Sabres right wing Maxim Afinogenov.

Afinogenov currently plays for the Dynamo in both his and Dementieva's hometown of Moscow.