And this was on a good day.
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Mother first, coach second, to Elena Dementieva, the fifth seed at the French Open, she did not have to endure too many stressful moments as her daughter made the quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-3 victory over South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers.
Apart from some ugly double-faults, seven in all, there were few alarms for the 28-year-old as she reached the quarter-finals here for the third time in what is her 46th consecutive appearance at a grand slam tournament.
Despite the ease of her victory, a glance across to the front row of seating behind the baseline revealed Vera experiencing the full repertoire of emotions.
Constantly shuffling in her seat, she craned her neck to follow the ball off her daughter’s strings, occasionally grimacing when it landed out or smacked the net. Double faults were met with a stony-faced stare.
There was genuine motherly anxiety etched across her features when Dementieva, both calves heavily strapped, scrambled to stay in some of the longer rallies.
At crucial moments, when a passing shot scored, Dementieva turned to share a fist pump with mum, a reassuring presence in the dog-eat-dog world of women’s tennis.
TOUCHING DISTANCE
When Scheepers fired an error on match point Vera could finally relax, high-fiving everybody in touching distance including Dementieva’s boyfriend, NHL star Maxim Afinogenov.
Recovering from her ordeal in the competitors restaurant later, Vera sat opposite Elena laughing and joking like a mother and daughter breaking off for lunch during a shopping trip.
“It’s not something I ever get used to,” Vera told Reuters of the stresses and strains of watching her daughter compete.
“I’m a mother first and coach second. I think my reactions and my emotions are pretty normal for any parent and yes, it can be difficult to watch at times.
“For me it doesn’t matter whether it’s a junior tournament, a first round of an ITF tournament or a grand slam fourth round. You are cheering for your child.”
Dementieva, who plays fellow Russian Nadia Petrova next in her continuing search for a grand slam title, says she could not imagine having another coach.
“Technically and emotionally she offers me great support, and it’s great company too having her with me,” Dementieva told Reuters.
"I know that she’s very emotional and sometimes it feels like she’s playing together with me on the court.
“I do try to say to her please be more relaxed, don’t take is so seriously, it’s just a game but I guess it’s hard to be a mum and to be a coach.
“I know she’s trying to help me and it must be hard to handle your emotions when your sitting in one place. It’s much easier for me running around on the court.”
Dementieva reached the finals of the French and US Opens in 2004 and her career has been littered with near-misses.
Vera says she is proud of how her daughter has stayed the course despite having to compete with a golden generation of players of a similar age.
“I had no idea she had played 46 grand slam in a row,” she said. “I’m proud because she’s a hard worker, she is so professional and she has earned respect.
“Her route has been so long but she didn’t retire like some players. She’s alwayss fighting, and she’s had to because the crop who came through with her are still there.”
Asked what her best and worst moments have been during Elena’s career she said she preffered not to remember the dark days, the injuries, the defeats.
But the best? “The Beijing Olympics when Elena won the gold medal. I could not stop crying,” she said.
There could be more tears next Saturday if Dementieva’s luck, and sore calf, hold out as she clearly believes she still has a grand slam title in her.
“I’m still hopeful, I still believe I can do it and here would be magic,” Dementieva said. “I feel so much support from the crowd here and since I was kid I dreamed to win the French Open. I was close in 2004 and this place is special for me.”
