Also, I was inspired to make a poll where you can vote for the cutest childhood photo of a WTA player. This list is of course by no means extensive. Feel free to share some cute photos of WTA players you may have come across, and I can feature them in future articles and polls.

Below are my photo favorites included in the poll:

1) Dinara Safina – I love her face expression here.

2) Sara Errani – Adorable curly blond hair, love the vintage look.

3) Sam Stosur - Classic girl beauty.

4) Jelena Jankovic – I love this photo of JJ in a fluffy top and skirt with lots of flowers, make-up and bracelets.

5) Elena Dementieva – Angelic girl.

6) Monica Seles - Very cute photo.

7 ) Ana Ivanovic - So adorable.

Above you can see Elena Dementieva talking about the show in Russian. (source: Tennis Info Blog)

The 29-year-old Dementieva, remembered as one of the nicest WTA stars, looked like a princess in her wedding dress.

Dementieva's husband is a famous Russian ice hockey player, Maxim Afinogenov, and many athletes attended the wedding of this sports couple. As for Elena's colleagues, there were Vera Dushevina, Dinara Safina, Maria Kirilenko, Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ekaterina Makarova.

The brides bouquet went into the hands of Vera Dushevina.

Caroline Wozniacki and Roger Federer sent video messages to congratulate the couple.

Women's Tennis Blog wishes a harmonious and joyful marriage to Elena and Maxim.

Yetzur Moshe, thank you for referring me to these sources in the Women's Tennis Fans Facebook group.

Thanks to Alla Kudryavtseva and Twitter we're learning that Elena Dementieva is getting married, according to the tweet I suppose on Saturday, July 16th. Dementieva's husband will be her long-time boyfriend, 31-year-old Maxim Afinogenov. He is a professional ice hockey player.

This news is not a surprise at all. When Dementieva retired from tennis last October she hinted thinking about starting a family:

To be honest with you, I mean, if I would be a man I would never stop playing.  But in the age 29; I have to think about something else. I think I'm ready for the big change in my life.

(source: DeShawn Besabella, photo via My Fabe Tennis)

Martina Navratilova and her mother Jana, who passed away at the age of 75.

In the photos above and below you can see Amelie Mauresmo's mother Françoise. The photos are from the Paris ceremony paying tribute to the career of the France's former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion.

In the following photo you can see Martina Hingis' mother Melanie Molitorova.

As early as in her pregnancy, Melanie wanted her daughter to be a top tennis player, as she herself was once ranked tenth among women in Czechoslovakia.

Elena Dementieva's mother Vera was a recreational tennis players and coached her daughter.

Elena has recently retired, without prior notice, during the WTA Championships in Doha, and the second photo is from the emotional ceremony of Elena saying goodbye to tennis.

More photos of tennis players and their mothers to follow.

Elena Dementieva retired this season during the WTA Championships in Doha and I decided to do this tribute to the well-known cooperation of the Russian and Yonex, as part of our yearly retrospections of players outfits.

As much as we fans loved Dementieva, most of us didn't like her Yonex clothes. Unlike Fila which nurtures that simple and sporty look successfully, Yonex's simplicity makes outfits too bland, and I would say it's mostly due to unflattering cuts. Dementieva has a nice figure and Yonex's outfits simply didn't take advantage of that. I believe they even failed to accentuate her pretty face, because they were so uninspiring.

Ok, I was being too harsh. I'm not saying that Yonex outfits are plain ugly, they are not. It's just that they were too "meh" for what Dementieva's beauty and popularity deserved.

In my opinion, the best design of all these pictured here is the Fed Cup dress in colors of the Russian flag. What do you say? What do you think of the Yonex tennis clothing?

If you compare Yonex's designs for Dementieva in 2009, you'll see that 2010 didn't bring any improvements, but it wasn't worse either. (photos: AP Photo/Rob Griffith, Life.com, FedCup.com, Richard van Ioon, PJPF Photography, © Neal Trousdale)

Twenty-nine-year-old Elena Dementieva quit tennis last week during the WTA Champinships in Doha and decided to pursue other things in life, such as starting a family. WTA players gathered to express their appreciation of Dementieva's personality, professionalism, successful singles and doubles career, and to share their memories of their tense matches with her.

The players featured in the video are: Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Jankovic, Kveta Peschke, Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Rennae Stubbs, Sam Stosur, Katarina Srebotnik, Lisa Raymond, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta.

Elena Dementieva

First of all, when Dementieva said she was ready for a big change in her life, yes, she was thinking about having babies. When asked about plans to have children, Dementieva said: "I hope so, yeah."

Also, you may have wondered how Dementieva will spend her time now that there is no travel and tennis in her life. The answer is that she will focus on her studies which she started last year at one of the best universities in Moscow. However, she will surely miss playing tennis and will follow the tournaments and congratulate players on their successes.

And of course, you may have wondered how Dementieva feels about not adding a Grand Slam title to her fruitful career. Well, she's not preoccupied with it, because she always gave the very best of herself – "You don't have to be perfect, but you have to try hard. And I did all the time." (source: WTA Tour, photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Still, it's very tough decision to make.  Very emotional.  I made the decision in the beginning of this season, so it was very hard coming to the tournaments knowing that this was my last one.  It was very emotional for me to play the whole year.

I didn't want to make it public.  I didn't want everybody talking about the whole season. You know, I only told to my family and close friends, so today in the court I was very surprised that everyone kind of knew about my secret.  They all were standing, and it was very special for me.

The 29-year-old Dementieva was ranked inside the Top 20 for 524 of 529 weeks since September 11, 2000. That’s ten years! She’s currently ranked ninth, and 328 of her career weeks she spent inside the Top 10.

I think it's the right time for me.  I never wanted to wait until my ranking dropped and I'm not going to be able to go to the main draw.  I always wanted to leave this sport with a passion for it.

Besides her professionalism, graciousness, nice personality that both players and fans admired and appreciated, Dementieva can pride herself on 16 singles titles, including two this year, and as much singles finals (including the 2004 French Open and US Open finals), six doubles titles, and above all the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The last match of Dementieva’s 12-year career was today at the WTA Championships when she lost to Francesca Schiavone 6-4 6-2. Dementieva’s last win came just a day before her retirement from the sport when she defeated Samantha Stosur in Doha after a third-set tiebreaker.

Dementieva further explained reasons for quitting tennis, and is she implying she wants to have children?

To be honest with you, I mean, if I would be a man I would never stop playing.  But in the age 29; I have to think about something else.  I think I'm ready for the big change in my life.

Good luck in everything you do, Elena! You will always be a welcome friendly face to see if you decide to at least stay around the sport of tennis. (quotes and video via Forty Deuce, photos via Stephane Martinache, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Dear readers, Women's Tennis Blog has become an attractive place for guest posters. This time Jay from www.OnCourtAdvantage.com wanted to contribute his preview of the Sony Ericsson Championships. Check out his favorites for the prestigious Doha title.

The Sony Ericsson Championships (SEC) have begun and will run for 6 days through to Women’s Singles Final on Sunday 31 October. Due to the unique Round Robin format used for this tournament we are blessed with the fantastic opportunity to see these top players clash more often than in any other tournament.

The SEC will produce a number of rematches of Grand Slam quarterfinals, semifinals and singles finals like Schiavone versus Stosur (2010 Roland Garros Final), Clijsters versus Wozniacki (2009 US Open Final) and Clijsters versus Zvonareva (2010 US Open Final).

In no other tournament are you required to beat at least 4 if not 5, of the world’s Top 8 ranked players to win the title. The degree of difficulty is extreme and at least one player will show us the qualities of a true champion this week.

The maroon group is:

(1) Caroline Wozniacki
(4) Francesca Schiavone
(5) Samantha Stosur
(7) Elena Dementieva

The white group is:

(2) Vera Zvonareva
(3) Kim Clijsters
(6) Jelena Jankovic
(8) Victoria Azarenka

Predictions:

Let me just warn you that in tennis more than any other sport you should never bet on the outcome of a match. Instead invest your funds into enjoying, watching, playing and improving the great game we love.

Anyone who REALLY understands this game knows that in the vast majority of matches, both players will have critical moments and opportunities that can swing the match either way and often there can be a number of these situations with the same match.

On any given day it is the player who in the above mentioned situations that can:

Produce the better strategic nous;
Make the better decisions;
Execute their shots during the BIG points; and
Copes best with mental challenges that usually dictate who triumphs on the day.
But if you really want a prediction THEN…

Who will make the semifinals?

The maroon group:

Based on the form that has taken the 20-year-old Wozniacki to be the current World No.1, you would have to lean towards the 1.77m Dane as the favorite to win her group. The youngest player in the field leads the WTA Tour in match wins – 59 – and singles titles this year, 6 titles from 7 finals.

The 1.66m Schiavone would probably be the next best chance to take the second semifinal spot. The eldest player in the field is in great physical condition and will be prepared to peak this week and in the Federation Cup Final following the SEC.

The 30-year-old Italian has enormous pride in representing her country and in her own performance, which suggests she will fight relentlessly. The steely resolve of the Lioness could prove too much for Dementieva’s fragile ankle and Stosur’s current lack of confidence.

The 29-year-old Dementieva forfeited with an ankle injury last week in Luxembourg as she did in the 2010 Roland Garros semifinals. The 1.8m Russian’s strongest component of her game is her court movement and court coverage, so if that is compromised it will be much tougher for her.

The 26-year-old Stosur has not been in good form recently but does possess a serve and forehand that can win her matches. The 1.72m Australian is well suited to hard courts and has won her most recent match against Wozniacki and Dementieva. Stosur also holds a winning record over Schiavone.

Best Guess = No.1 Schiavone and No.2 Wozniacki.

The white group:

Zvonareva and Clijsters have performed the strongest this year in their group. The 26-year-old Zvonareva has beaten the 27-year-old Clijsters twice this year including at Wimbledon. Yet the 1.74m Clijsters from Belgium won the last meeting against the Russian, the 2010 US Open final to claim her third US Open title.

The 1.72m Zvonareva achieved her career high ranking of No.2 this Monday and has the form and results in this group. Even though Clijsters won their last encounter it was also the last time the former No.1 competed, some 6 weeks ago.

Despite being heavily favored in the press a question mark hangs over her match toughness, hunger and whether she is injury-free. Clijsters has lost her most recent matches against Jankovic and Azarenka in 2010.

The 25-year-old Jankovic has not been at her best recently. The former World No.1 fires up when she meets established champions and is vulnerable against lower ranked opponents. The 1.77m Serbian clinched the season-ending No.1 ranking in 2008 and is the dark horse this year.

The 21-year-old Azarenka loves hard courts and comes in full of confidence after winning the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Sunday. The 1.8m Belarusian won her most recent matches against Jankovic and Clijsters plus has won 2 of the 3 matches against Zvonareva this year.

Azarenka can take out any player on her day but her mental strength can cost her. It would be great for women’s tennis if she could turn it on this week and stabilize her game to challenge deep into major tournaments.

In terms of consistent performances Clijsters and Zvonareva stand out.

Best Guess = No.1 Zvonareva and No.2 Clijsters.

Who will play-off in the final?

Anything can happen once the semifinals are set. After playing 3 matches a player could be suffering physically or could be really playing herself into top form.

Last year Wozniacki had to retire in the semifinals. This year we hope that the semis and final are a tremendous showcase of great women’s tennis. Make sure you do not miss out on seeing four fit players playing high quality, with great variety and inspiring tennis.

Wozniacki versus Azarenka could provide a great finish to the year, so too could Zvonareva and Wozniacki. It would be intriguing to see Clijsters play Wozniacki as they have only played once. I’m sure Wozniacki would love to have another go at Clijsters, especially after how much she has improved since September 2009.

Best Guess = Wozniacki defeating Clijsters in a 3-set final. (photos via karlnorling, Stephane Martinache, © Neal Trousdale)