Gift of Hearing Foundation – GOHF Fall Online Auction - 2014
Auction Ends: Sep 25, 2014 10:00 PM EDT

Collectibles

Elena Dementieva Autographed Tennis Ball

Item Number
135
Estimated Value
99 USD
Opening Bid
30 USD

Item Description

Elena Dementieva was one of Russia's top tennis players until she retired in 2010.  In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she won the Gold Medal in women's singles.  She won the Silver Medal in 2000 at Syndey.

This ball was used in actual play during Dementieva's easy 4th round win over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the 2010 Pilot Pen Event in New Haven, Connecticut.  It is one of 3 that she signed and hit into the stands.  Elena went on to meet Wozniacki in the semi-finals which Wozniacki won.  This was Dementieva's last appearance at a Pilot Pen event.  She announced her retirement just 3 months later.

Elena was consistently ranked among the top ten players in the world in her professional tennis career spanning 1999 to 2010.  Though she reached either Final or Semi-final rounds at all of the 4 Grand Slam venues; a championship title had still eluded her when she decided to retire while still ranked in the top 10.  She concluded her career ranked #9 in the world with a career high ranking of #3.

She was a well respected, admired and elegant player who contributed greatly to furthering the sport of tennis for other young women in Russia.

 

Item Special Note

This item is owner authenticated - donated by original owner.  Display cube included.