Elena Dementieva
Fourth seed Elena Dementieva
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Thursday, 18, Jun 2009 12:07
Date of birth: 15/10/1982 (Age: 26).
Nationality: Russian
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 140lbs
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned professional: 1998
Current ATP singles ranking: 4
Best Wimbledon performance: Semi-finals - 2008
Grass court pedigree
As far back as 2003 Dementieva performed well at Wimbledon, reaching the semi-finals of the women's doubles and beating the Williams sisters along the way.
However, she lost in the third round of the singles in 2004, despite reaching both the French and US Open finals, questioning how comfortable she is on grass.
Nonetheless, following a number of respectable grass performances at both Wimbledon and s-Hertogenbosch in the next few years, Dementieva reached the Wimbledon semi-final in 2008, losing to eventual champion Venus Williams.
Wimbledon seeding: 4
Chances of SW19 success?
Dementieva's ATP singles ranking may be deceptive due to the sheer amount of tournaments she plays each season; her 2008 Wimbledon semi-final was her first grand slam last-four match since the 2005 US Open.
In 2009, Dementieva went out of the third round of the French Open, where her previous greatest weakness - her serve - caused problems once again. Her 2009 clay court season has not been up to her usual high standards, with this year's best performance being a semi-final appearance at Charleston's hard courts.
There is also a doubt over how well Dementieva can close out matches, especially in the big events.
Prediction: Quarter-finalist
Although somewhat dominated by Venus Williams in the opening of her first Wimbledon semi-final in 2008, losing the first set 6-1, she fought back impressively in the second - challenging Williams' composure and forcing a tie-breaker that Williams ultimately won.
It would therefore be wrong to dismiss the woman who was the highest seed left in the 2008 Championship after the fourth round, though her current 2009 performance might limit her chances to reach anything beyond the last-eight.
Patrick Steen