by Jackie Roe, TW Social Director
Hey, TWibe. It's good to be back following my little hiatus. Many thanks to white line fever for pinch hitting as Deuce Club host last week. Fantastic work, wilfy! I'll be bugging you again soon, I'm sure.
I had planned on another hodgepodge DC, but that changed as of this morning, when I was bludgeoned by the news of Elena Dementieva's retirement. Check out the video here.
Earlier today, Bobby so eloquently summed up my reaction to the development. Here are a few additional thoughts:
I'm left now with this feeling that we took Dementieva for granted. She was one of those constants, someone you counted on always being there, running down every ball. I don't want to imagine the WTA without her. It wasn't a cakewalk being a fan, but that almost made the experience more worthwhile—more humanizing. You felt like you had to support her through the ups and downs, like you couldn't leave her hanging. And that she would too often come up maddeningly short only made her victories ever more gratifying, both for her and for us.
When I first heard the news, I was in such a daze I couldn't figure out how to honor her here. I figured I'd start by searching for Dementieva's name in the Deuce Club archives to see what I'd previously written about her. Then the memories came flooding back.
Recognizing her as my "most improved player" of 2008 . . . Reveling in seeing her up close (seven rows in?) in Ashe Stadium, playing her heart out even in a losing effort . . . Catching her sign a fan's ball in Indian Wells before a practice session, with such warmth and patience that you'd swear she'd just given her first autograph . . . Standing next to her at a salad bar as she ordered food for her mom, as I've done so many times . . . Waking up in the middle of the night to watch her play Henin in Melbourne and staring agape for the entire first set . . .
And of course there's the Olympic gold, her Fed Cup heroics, the anxiety-inducing thrillers ('09 Wimbledon, vs. Serena, anyone?).
Most of all, I'll remember her athleticism, those powerful groundies, the grunt!, her effortless beauty, her class. We'll miss you, Elena.
If you haven't already in the earlier post, feel free to share your Dementieva memories here. If you're looking for lighter fare, and I don't blame you if you are, consider these topics: the World Series (is anyone watching?), the wretched Project Runway finale (Mondo wuz robbed!), Halloween (are you dressing up?).
Have a fun and safe weekend, TWibe!