Elena Dementieva announces retirement in Doha
Published:Friday | October 29, 2010 | 6:24 PM
Olympic champion and world number nine Elena Dementieva announced her retirement from tennis after her final match at the WTA Championships in Doha today.
The 29 year-old Russian delivered the shock news after losing to Francesca Schiavone in the group stages of the season-ending tournament.
Dementieva reached two Grand Slam finals during her career, at the French Open and the US Open in 2004.
Dementieva was joined on court by her fellow competitors and mother and coach Vera, who has travelled for many years with her daughter.
Dementieva enjoyed her greatest success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she beat Serena Williams, Vera Zvonareva and Dinara Safina on her way to the gold medal.
She won 16 singles titles during her 12-year career on the WTA Tour and six in doubles, earning almost £9 million in prize money.