[Volcana]

Elena : Age 21, Born in Moscow, Right-handed 1.80 64 kg <br />Anna _: Age 21, Born in Moscow, Right-handed 1.73 56 kg

Kournikova (Year Turned Pro: 1995)<br />****<br />Career Singles Titles: 0<br />Career Win-Loss Record: 155-93 <br />Career Win-Loss Percentage: 62.5% <br />Highest Singles Rank: 8 (November 20, 2000)

Dementieva (Year Turned Pro: 1998)<br />****<br />Career Singles Titles: 0<br />Career Win-Loss Record: 101-59 <br />Career Win-Loss Percentage: 63.1% <br />Highest Doubles Rank: 88 (October 22, 2001)

These may turn out to be the two best Russians in a generation. If either of them knew how to win.<br />They've never played in the WTA. If they did, who would win? Are either of them any more than marginal top ten players? <br />Why can't either of them win a tournament? Will Anna again, barring injury, be ranked ahead of Elena?

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

They haven't met in juniors either but were based together in the same club a long time ago before Anna left for the US.

These two are the best Russian girls right now but in a generation NEVER.<br /> Elena excels in FED CUP play but Anna freezes there hence her reluctance to play.<br /> <br /> <br /> We got heaps and heaps of players ready to take their place.

Elena will win a title in 2002, as will Anna in Auckland.

Why they can't is a mystery for everyone , but its gonna happen sooner rather than later, well I hope so.

 

[Volcana]

What I meant was the both showed they COULD be. Both were in the top 10 before they were 21. We're seeing a lot of that now, but it really isn't common. At least, not for Russia. Is there something common to that club that could account for them not winning? Were they sent to bed without their supper if they bageled their opponents?

There are bizarre similarities in the arc of their respective singles careers.

 

[Robbie.]

What a difference a year makes, huh?

This time last year these two russian startlets were on the up and up, Kournikova consolidating her talent with an excellent fall season to gain the No.8 ranking and Dementieva breaking through at the US Open and having a brilliant run at the chase to improve her ranking 55 places to No.12.

Dementieva was probably given the most scope for improvement and was expected to solidify her place as a top ten player. Kournikova was expected to be thereabout s by years end. Injury ruined both their seasons.

Anna started the year solidly by reaching the quarters of the australian open, but was then dogged by injury for the rest of the year and she tumbled to No.74, missing the remaining three majors.

Just as Elena was finding her game on the American Hardcourts at Indian Wells and Key Biscayne she two was injured, missed most of the claycourt season and was rusty at the french. Her form picked up towards the end of the season when she stretched Kim at the Us Open, then defeated Martina en route to the final in Moscow and qualified for the Chase again. But her season would have been MUCH better had she been injury free, she is better than both Dokic and Mauresmo - especially on hardcourt.

I think Kournikova will be hungrier than ever this year and will win her first title, but I donm't think she will be ranked above Elena by years end if both have an uninterrupted season. Elena is more fluent, is quicker, stronger and has more natural flair. While Anna will always be a Top 15-20 player in my view, Elena has the potential to do more maybe even be a grandslam champion at some point and can definitely consistently reside in the lower regions of the top ten, perhaps with occassional forays into the top 5. Elena can beat the top players, in only two years at the top level she has already beaten Martina, Lindsay and Venus and gone close agaisnt Jennifer this season.

It was only this time last year that Elena was being mentioned with the likes of Clijsters, Dokic and Henin and we all know what they did this season as they enjoyed smooth sailing injury wise. Some even ranked her as a greater talent than the aforementioned trio, and certainly she was considered more forward in her development than Kim her reached the loft heights of the top 5 late in the season. I think Elena, given the absence of an injury, could really suprise a few people next year and make a move on the top 10.

Now to Dementieva Vs Kournikova...

I think although Elena is a superior player technically, Anna would have a slight edge at the moment given elena's woeful record against her countrywomen. Elena serves bigger and is more consistent than the flashy Anna so she will always be in the match. But she seems to have a mental block against russians, wish I think she will break soon. Another good thing to see is how hungry Anna has appeared in exhibitions recently and that could be crucial to her progress this year. In the future however I think you will see Elena win 7 out of 10 matches with Anna, especially with an edge on hardcourt and clay where her consistency and speed will wear anna down (anna has the edge on grass, where her flat groundies make it difficult to grind).

Hopefully both will bring a fresh attitude to the court this year and exorcise the demons of the 2001 season.

 

[MLF]

I think Anna has more options than Elena. Anna really was looking like the real thing before she injured her thumb when beating Graf at Eastbourne back in '98. She had solid groundies and a lovely ability to get to net which of course she still has but sometimes I think she gets lost in trying to be a big power hitter from the back.<br />I think Dementieva is a good talent but both she and Elena Bovina have disgraceful serves for girls of their height.

 

[moon]

agree with MLF, Anna has more options. Plus Dementieva has no net game to speak of, while Anna has tons.

 

[ys]

I thought this subject has already been beaten to the death in earlier threads.. Anyways, I wish they never have to play each other.

 

[jd4eva]

Kournikova is better than Dementieva.

tennisaddict: Dementieva is no way better than Dokic, last year she was. This year, they are in a different class. Mauresmo's better as well.

<br />Dementieva is not as good as Kournikova. Weak mentally, no net game, error prone strokes and really bad mentality on the court.

 

[Robbie.]

I have to seriously question the validity of some people's points of view. I find that often a player puts in one lackluste mental effort and they are seen for several years following as "chokers" or "mentally fragile". Two players off the top of my head that suffer this burden are Justine Henin and Elena Dementieva. You will find that these players have lost matches in the past from winning positions but were very inexperienced at the time and will no doubt grow strionger in this vein. People seem to forget Dementieva's resolute stance against Davenport (saing matchpoints) at the chase 1999, or her comeback from the brink of defeat against Kim at that same tournament or her ot steadying of veteran Huber in her first ever GS quarterfinal match.

I agree Jelena's results this year point to her being better than Elena, but Dementieva never got the chance to show her game in 2001 because of injury. I don't understand how so many people are canning her when she finished No.15 in the world in a year when she was very restricted by injury.

Put it this way...if Elena plays to her fall 2000 standard, which I think she can barring injury, she is better than Kournkiova and will be in the top 10 by years end.

 

[the cat]

Anna versus Elena? They haven't played each other in over 10 years. Anna has more skills. Elena is physically stronger. I can't wait until they play. They are my two favorite pro tennis players. The main thing is, they have to stay healthy for the entire season. Then we'll see both of them play their best tennis. Udachi Anna and Elena!

P.S. - ILUVJELENA, why do you spew so much venom at Elena? I don't get it. Are you still sore about Elena coming from behind to beat Jelena in the 2000 Olympics? In 2001, Jelena proved that she was better than Elena. I will grant you that. But next year when they play, Jelena will have the pressure of being the favorite in their matchups. Let's see if she can handle the pressure of great expectations. ILUVJELENA, things can change alot in one year. Next year at this time, you may be known as ILUVELENA!

Volcana, even though Anna and Elena have much different playing styles, their similarities are amazing. Surprisingly, Anna and Elena remain titleless. They both were born in the same country, same city and in the same year. Plus they both come from the Spartak Tennis club in Moscow. That's where Marat Safin learned to play, too. But the real kicker is that both Anna and Elena are injury prone. Let's hope they can stay healthy next year, and play some fine tennis.

 

[brickhousesupporter]

I think that Anna is technically better than Elena. It seems to me that her shots carry more weight that Elena's. She also to me as amazing as it may sound seems to have more variety that Elena. Elena know only one way, and that is harder and even harder. This is not going to work against a quality opponent.

 

[Guest]

anna would win, anna in my opinion really is the better player, AND the better athlete, thank you.

 

[QueenV]

I think Anna would win. I like her game better. If she keeps her df's to a minimum and uses her net game then the she will kill Elena if Elena doesn't kill herself with her UE's.

 

[ys]

It is plain stupid to say that one of them is technically better than the other. It is like sayign that Hingis is technically better than Graf. So what? Elena has a textbook weapon forehand. Anna's forehand is very erratic, her worst shot perhaps. Elena's backhand is improving, she hits backhand from very open stance, and it is quite consistent shot. Anna is better at net. ANna has more versatile game. Both have crap serve, but at least Elena's serve is improving. Anna's serve never got back to even spring 98 level. I think they are very different players, and I expect both to bounce back in 2002.

 

[NumberONE]

They are both BEAUTIFUL and SEXY!!!!!!!!

 

[JCAPfan]

Personally I prefer Elena than Anna!!!

 

[marshmellow]

actually i'm looking forward to a match between these two young ladies. i've always liked anna more but i think elena's pretty talented too

.

elena yes, has that textbook forehand while anna sometimes sprays hers all over the court but when anna does get them going, she hits them so fast and so flat like she does in the practic court, you wouldn't believe it

!

as for their serve...elena's serve is better

, but anna also has the ability to follow up hers with volleys when she does hit them wide and deep

.

elena's wide backhand stance helps her get back quick shots

but anna gets to lean in on those backhand groundies with her stance and that way she really transfers her weight into her shot.

hmmmm....so far they seem pretty equal.

....also both are mentally weak... they both have had lapses in the middle of matches that were abosolutely crucial times...

so why am i giving anna the edge? cos anna has versatility. for one, she's not your usual baseline player... she knows when to get the point done and when to come in...she's also the better shot-maker to me...this might have been said before but she's got all the shots...it's just a matter of knowing which ones to use at the exact right time....i think anna has the advantage on some other things... she's never lost to a fellow russian before she got her foot injury when she came back and had this string of early round losses...while elena seems to struggle more fighting her compatriots...also anna's pretty much a veteran now....<br /> <br />oh yeah btw, i left out one thing

...cos she's my fave player that's why

...

as both these girls are injury prone, i just wish they stay injury free in the next years to come...

good luck to the russians!!

 

[Chris]

It will be not a bad match too watch both the tennis and the girls.

 

[Aloysius]

Anna will be better overall, but Elena will win their first head-to-head.

 

[veryborednow]

I prefer Elena <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Just for her grunt LMAO, that is the best grunt