[xan]

This is a clip from a Reuters news release:

17-year-old Mikaelian, ranked outside the top 100, broke Dementieva to go 3-2 up before going on to take the opening set.

A listless Dementieva suffered as her sturdy Swiss opponent unleashed a barrage of punishing, pinpoint ground strokes that left her lunging in vain.

Mikaelian kept up her assault in the second set finishing the match without facing a break point.

``It is my best win,'' said Mikaelian, who underlined her potential with a victory at last year's European junior championships.

``I felt I could win this match. If you don't think you can win you don't go on the court. I don't think I have ever played better than that.''

SOUR GRAPES

Dementieva, however, conceded little to her opponent, branding the tournament as the worst on the WTA calendar and blaming her defeat on the poor facilities and court conditions.

``It is very bad conditions her, this is the worst tournament,'' Dementieva said. ``There is no place to warmup, no gym and the practice court is different from the stadium.

``Maybe I'm not professional enough but I could not get a feeling for the court. I hope to never play here again.''

Blaming the tournament for a loss is not a good idea. Though I don't know how soon after the defeat this interview was taken. She certainly seems angry with her loss.

Eurosport commentators seem to agree that the court in Zurich is very different from last weeks fast indoor surface at Filderstadt, and takes a lot of getting used to.

Even so, Elena has clearly crossed the line here.

 

[ys]

What line?

 

[jd4eva]

The line between the truth or bullshit.

Unfortunately, Elena spoke bullshit

 

[Dawn Marie]

Elena didn't even congratulate the swiss player for spanking that ass. It is so obvious that she was NOT uspet with the actual facilties as much as she was for the swiss player who whipped her. She's mad at something swiss but imho it ain't the courts.

By the way has Elena ever won a singles tourney yet?

 

[Penne]

Are the conditions any different for her opponent???

NOPE - in fact given her opponent is a much lower ranked player I would say things are just that much harder for her.

Elena is just a grumpy sore loser - much like Kafelnikov.

A lot of the Russian players have this sort of demeanour and it does them no favours.

Have any other players grumbled about the conditions??? <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[ys]

You guys have all your God's given freedom to talk your crap. This time I won't interfere and will enjoy observing this wonderful process from aside. Go on.. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[Dawn Marie]

He He I knew you would show up soon.. ys. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

Well since your observing could you answer my question? Has Elena ever won a singles tourney? I think she has but then I read that she hasn't.

 

[ys]

No, she didn't. She, however, has two precious trophies, earned by her game and personality - 1) Olympic medal ( the item of boundless envyness of all Jelena Dokic fans )and 2) my support. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[jd4eva]

Oh Puhleez!

As if we would care all that much about Jelena not winning the silver medal!

For God sakes! Jelena has ACTUALLY won a title. In fact, she's won 3!

4 if you include her win at the Watsons Water Challenge

5 if you include Hopman Cup.

ys, just face it that Dokic is better and nothing Dementieva's ever done outweighs what Dokic has done. For all I care, she can keep that medal while Jelena keeps on raking in the Tier I's and II's and the money!

 

[ys]

For all I care of what you think of what is important and what is an ultimate value in sport ( And I care as much as Mr Bin Laden cares about kosher food, or perhaps, I am exaggerating, I probably care less ), silver medal earned Dementieva a huge respect in her country and her name is now in the most golden book of sport history - list of Olympic medal winners. We just have different values.
Money? Titles? She'll have them plenty, Olympic medal is forever. Kafelnikov said that his Olympic gold is as much precious as him Slams, but, perhaps for a player who changes country once an year it is not that important. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[jd4eva]

Titles and Money, she'll have them plenty?

Umm.sorry to inform you, Elena's 2 years older and still can't live up to Dokic in both areas.

She's crossed Swisscom off her list, I wonder what will be the next event?!

She can't win an event like it is, crossing off events isn't going to help her!

I wonder if she felt Marie Gaiane was in another stadium, because it sure sounds like it.

A few years from now, no one remembers who won the silver at the Olympics. They'll remember the Gold Medalist but silver, they don't. They'll remember the players with the big titles, not those who came 2nd.

 

[the cat]

ILUVJELENA, in a few years no one will remember that Elena Dementieva won the silver medal in Sydney? Really, I'll remember. And millions of Russians will remember. And it's the Russians who matter most to Elena. And the Russian people are proud of Elena. While Anna Kournikova chose not to play the Olymics, a tired Elena Dementieva flew to Sydney and earned her silver medal. By the way, I think there are some people who remember who Dementieva beat in the Olympic semifinals. ILUVJELENA, do you remember who Elena beat in the Olympic semifinals?

P.S. - ILUVJELENA, I consider myself to be a fair member of this board. I like Jelena Dokic. Not as much as Elena Dementieva. But I like Dokic. Jelena also might be the most attractive player in women's tennis. And I have no problem saying that Jelena is a better tennis player than Elena. Jelena has a killer instinct. Elena doesn't. Jelena has cunning court qualities. Elena doesn't. I'm sure Jelena relished the idea of beating Elena in the Kremlin Cup, on Elena's home court in Moscow. Jelena seemed to relish the 2000 Fed Cup win she had over Anna Kournikova in Moscow. But Jelena can never get back the Olympic semifinal she lost to Elena. She can beat Dementieva in all the New Haven's and Moscow's she wants. But to get revenge on Elena from the Olympics, Jelena is going to have to beat Elena in an important grand slam match. Next year, Jelena is going to have alot of good results to defend. The pressure will be on Jelena. I hope she plays well. Remember, the tide can change quickly in tennis. This time next year, Elena might be a better tennis player than Jelena. But that remains to be seen.

P.P.S. - I wonder if Jelena beating Elena the last two official times they've played will keep them from playing doubles together. What do you think?

P.P.P.S. - Elena is One and a half years older than Jelena. Not two.

 

[All4Williams]

Sour Grapes - I know what you mean. Was it at Indiana Wells where her post defeat comments created such a hard time for the Williams. I still get annoyed when I remeber her comments. <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0">

 

[ys]

Those comments were so true.. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[All4Williams]

YS,

If you say that those comments were so true then Elena was lying when she said that she was only joking!

 

[BigTennisFan]

``Maybe I'm not professional........

The only problem with this statement by Elena is that she should have omitted the word "maybe" .

At least she can take consolation in her belief that she can beat Venus when they are both playing 100%. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

 

[xan]

I'm quite an Elena Fan. But I was surprised at her outburst. If she turns up at the Swisscom again she'll be at a big disadvantage, with a lot of the crowd against her, and people calling her a hypocrite.

If she was going to criticise the tournament facilities, this was NOT the right moment. It just looks like pique.

Bad mistake, Elena.

 

[jd4eva]

cat in the hat: i must say you have been one of the more fair and objective elena fans around. yes, jelena can't take that back but dementieva can't substantiate a career on 1 olympic medal.

she's a great talent and a definite top 10 player (she'll be there for a long time) but what i can't stand is certain elena fans who have no respect for any other player. like a certain fan said dementieva was killing dokic's 2nd serve, but dokic was inside the baseline for dementieva's 2nd serve and even the eurosport commentators said that dementieva was not as effective as dokic.

i think they should show respect and you certainly do!

you are a class act!

i don't think we'll see dementieva/dokic much. tehy're a good team but i think it's probably better for them to play with other players. i think dokic is very happy with conchita. btw, who won silver in atlanta? (sorry, i really don't know)

 

[Adrian]

Obviously I luv Jelena's comments should be taken very seriously, after all who has had more experience in sour grapes then a fan of a player who displays it to the ultimate...Jelena Dokic

 

[the cat]

ILUVJELENA, who won the silver medal in Atlanta? It was Aranxta Sanchez- Vicario. Or, was it Jana Novotna? One of them won the silver, while the other one got the bronze medal. I think. You may have proved your point about people forgetting who won the silver medal in Sydney. But most Russian sports fans will remember Dementieva taking the silver in Sydney. And that's all that matters to Elena. Once Elena wins a title, her best tennis will follow. I only wish Elena could borrow some of Jelena's killer instinct and mental toughness. Then Elena would push the top 5. Until Elena wins that first tiltle, she is going to have tough sailing. Udachi Elena!