Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova

Elena Dementieva

Rus
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
DOB: October 15, 1981
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Height: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Weight: 141 lbs. (64 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Status: Pro (Aug. 25, 1998) / Retired (Oct. 29, 2010)
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- Played first event of career on ITF Circuit in Moscow in 1995; played first WTA main draw at Moscow in 1997 (l. to Schnyder in 1r).
- Won 16 WTA titles (incl. Beijing Olympics in 2008) and reached another 16 finals (incl. two Grand Slam finals in 2004 at Roland Garros and US Open).
- Made Top 100 debut on July 19, 1999 (after Palermo); made Top 20 debut on September 11, 2000 (after US Open); made Top 10 debut on February 26, 2001 (after Nice); made Top 5 debut on September 13, 2004 (after US Open); reached career-high No.3 on April 6, 2009 (after Miami).
- Had seven Top 10 seasons (incl. two Top 5 seasons, finishing 2008 at No.4 and 2009 at No.5); was ranked No.9 when she retired on October 29, 2010.
- Played WTA Championships 10 of 11 years between 2000 and 2010 (only year not to play was 2007, but still qualified as an alternate that year).
- Reached SF or better nine times at Grand Slams: runner-up twice, at 2004 Roland Garros (l. to Myskina in first all-Russian Grand Slam final) and 2004 US Open (l. to Kuznetsova in second all-Russian Grand Slam final); SF seven times, at 2000 US Open (l. to Davenport), 2005 US Open (l. to Pierce), 2008 Wimbledon (l. to V.Williams), 2008 US Open (l. to Jankovic), 2009 Australian Open (l. to S.Williams), 2009 Wimbledon (l. to S.Williams 67(4) 75 86; held mp at 5-4 third set) and 2010 Roland Garros (ret. vs. Schiavone w/left calf strain - also forced withdrawal from Wimbledon); in last Grand Slam played, reached 4r at 2010 US Open (l. to Stosur 63 26 76(2); held 4mp - 1mp at 5-3 third set, 3mp at 5-4 third set).
- Won six WTA doubles titles (incl. WTA Championships w/Husarova in 2002) and reached another seven finals (incl. two Grand Slam finals at 2002 US Open w/Husarova and 2005 US Open w/Pennetta); doubles career-high was No.5 (set on April 14, 2003).
- Last WTA event was WTA Championships in 2010 (went 1-2 in RR stage, falling to Wozniacki in first match, beating Stosur in second match and falling to Schiavone in last pro match).
SINGLES
Winner (16): 2010 - Sydney, Paris [Indoors]; 2009 - Auckland, Sydney, Toronto; 2008 - Dubai, Olympics, Luxembourg; 2007 - Istanbul, Moscow; 2006 - Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Los Angeles; 2004 - Hasselt; 2003 - Amelia Island, Bali, Shanghai; 1998 - ITF/Buchen-GER; 1997 - ITF/Istanbul 3-TUR; 1996 - ITF/Jurmula-LAT.
Finalist (16): 2010 - Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo [Pan Pacific]; 2009 - Paris [Indoors]; 2008 - Berlin, Istanbul; 2006 - Indian Wells; 2005 - Charleston, Philadelphia; 2004 - Miami, Roland Garros, US Open, Moscow; 2002 - 's-Hertogenbosch; 2001 - Acapulco, Moscow; 2000 - Olympics.

DOUBLES
Winner (6): 2005 - Los Angeles (w/Pennetta); 2003 - 's-Hertogenbosch (w/Krasnoroutskaya); 2002 - Berlin, San Diego, Moscow, Tour Championships (all w/Husarova); 1997 - ITF/Istanbul 3-TUR, ITF/Tbilisi-GEO, ITF/Batumi-GEO (all w/Myskina).
Finalist (7): 2006 - Berlin (w/Pennetta); 2005 - Sydney (w/Sugiyama), US Open (w/Pennetta); 2002 - Paris [Indoors], Indian Wells, US Open (all w/Husarova); 2001 - Moscow (w/Krasnoroutskaya).

ADDITIONAL
Russian Fed Cup Team, 1999, 2001-03, 2005-06, 2009-10; Russian Olympic Team, 2000, 2004, 2008.
Was coached by mother, Vera ... Supported by Foundation for the Development of Tennis in Russia ... Father, Viatcheslav, is an electrical engineer; mother is a teacher; brother, Vsevolod, is university student ... Enjoys skiing ... Loves animals (has a Yorkshire terrier named Patrick) ... Graduated from Special Language School (French) in 1998; took English lessons in 2000 ... Most memorable experience was seeing Australian animals in the wild ... Tennis player most admired is Martina Hingis because she played like chess on court.
- Received four WTA Player Awards: Most Improved Player (2000), Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (2008), Fan Favorite Singles Player Of The Year (2009) and Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (2010); other awards received include Russia's Female of the Year Award (2001).
- Boris Yeltsin was present for historic 2004 Roland Garros final (vs. Myskina; first all-Russian Grand Slam singles final, won by Myskina).
- WTA mentor was Leila Meskhi in Partners for Success program, the mentor division of the Professional Development Program.