Dementieva longs for Grand Slam title

PETALING JAYA: Russian tennis star Elena Dementieva could be well regarded as one of the most talented players in tennis but she has yet to win a Grand Slam title.

Despite being currently ranked No. 5 and having had a career high ranking at No. 3 in April this year, the 28-year-old featured in only two Grand Slam finals – the French Open and the US Open in 2004.

We love the camera: Zheng Jie (left) and Maria Kirilenko posing after their Showdown of Champions exhibition match yesterday. Kirilenko won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

“Winning a Grand Slam title is the biggest focus for me next year.

“I have been in the finals twice and would like to win one next year,” said Dementieva, who is in Kuala Lumpur for the Showdown of Champions KL 2009 with compatriot Maria Kirilenko (world No. 62), Zheng Jie (world No. 35) of China and India’s Sania Mirza (world No. 57).

In the 2004 French Open, hard-hitting Dementieva was denied the title by compatriot Anastasia Myskina while in the US Open, she lost to another Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets.

“But of course my main goal is to stay injury free for the whole year so that I can play to my full potential,” she said.

Last year saw Dementieva bagged the Beijing Olympic gold medal in the singles event after defeating compatriot Dinara Safina.

Although longing for a Grand Slam title, Dementieva said she would not trade her gold medal for it.

“It was definitely one of the proudest moments in my life to win the gold medal in the Olympics. Winning the gold medal for your country is a magnificent feeling that is different from winning any other tournaments,” she said.

In yesterday’s exhibition match – dubbed Asia versus Russia – it was a score for Russia as both Kirilenko and Dementieva triumphed over their respective opponents Zheng Jie and Sania.

Kirilenko overcame a challenge from Zheng Jie to emerge victorious 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 while in another match, Dementieva was forced to slog before getting the better of Sania in the tie breaker 6-4, 6-6 (7-0).