Hail to Queen Elena – a Regal Power
When Elena Dementieva wins her first Grand Slam Championship at the 2009 US Open, the 11-year tour veteran will finally shake that “best player to have never won a major” label. In a sport that is beginning to look like a Russian talent show, Elena Dementieva is the best of the lot.
With more than $12 million in career earnings, the 5’11” 27-year old blonde beauty need not make excuses or offer an assortment of sob stories as some of her more pampered teammates have chosen to do. That is not Elena’s style. Elena Dementieva takes her graceful game to the court, puts out 100% every time and always walks away with her head held high. Elena Dementieva has nothing about which to be ashamed.
Tennis has been good for Elena and Elena has been good for tennis. The slender bombshell has won 449 professional singles matches. She has won 50 of those matches in 2009 while losing just 13 times. In the last five Grand Slam Tournaments, Elena has reached the semifinals four times.
Neither top seed laughingstock Dinara Safina, second seeded Serena Williams or third seeded Venus Williams can boast such a consistent Grand Slam record over the past two years. Elena has not always been in her best playing form, working her way through a series of nagging injuries. However, Elena finds ways to win.
At Wimbledon this year, Elena took her A game right to Serena Williams, offering the eventual champion all she could handle in a stirring three set match. The semifinal battle was far and away the most exciting match of the London tournament.
Dementieva showed a return to form in England. Her foot speed and groundstrokes were exquisite. What thrilled Elena’s fans most was her very competitive service game, long deemed her Achilles heel. With her newfound velocity has come an increased confidence and as Serena will attest, a confident Elena is a very dangerous contender.
Claiming her first Grand Slam title will not be easy. The Dementieva quarterfinal bracket is the most difficult in the Open. Likely pairings will include a second round tussle with American teen sensation Melanie Oudin, a quarterfinalist and surprise dominator of the 5th seeded Jankovic in London. Oudin’s serve is a problem but she can expect boisterous support from the U.S. crowds.
A likely third round matchup will be against 29th seed and another crowd favorite Maria Sharapova. Russia will have two of its most notable stars on the court for that battle. Maria has won two Grand Slams and the 2006 Open. Now, that is a third round match to remember! The tall, beautiful blondes will provide plenty of firepower in the best third round paring of the event.
The most likely 5th round match will feature yet another Russian top seed, Nadia Petrova. 2009 has been a good year for Petrova. With 439 career wins and no fear of anyone, Nadia can play with anyone.
In the quarters, Elena can look forward to a colossal pairing with still one more Russian, 6th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. Svetlana’s 2009 resume shows 31 wins, 11 losses and 1 Grand Slam earned the hard way, in Paris. Kuznetsova will have her own challenges with the likes of Carla Navarro Suarez, Agnes Szavay, Sorana Cirstea and Caroline Wozniacki in her bracket, but it pales in comparison to Elena’s road.
After Elena disposes of Svetlana, the biggest Russian of them all, top seed Dinara Safina, might be waiting in the semis. Safina will not go quietly, but she will go. Safina’s only severe challenge might come from the unpredictable but always game Ana Ivanovic. Neither player is up to Dementieva’s form. Elena may actually draw a sigh or relief at the semi pairing because the way the deck is stacked, it will be an imposing journey past two major champions just to get there.
But, that is the way it is in professional tennis. And, it is the way a woman about to claim her first US. Open and her first Grand Slam should want it to be. All hail, Elena Dementieva, a player who just keeps getting better and better.
After watching the 
