New website named;http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/melanieoudin

Check it out here:

http://celebrityfem.com/Athletes/JelenaDokic.html

=================
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Wimbledon, England; grass; Major)
================= http://www.wimbledon.org/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Malek

---------
1. Photos
---------

Jelena Dokic [EF]:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/players/overview/wta040344.html
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=dokic

Photos at http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/ (Memorable Moments)

-----------------------------------------------
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Malek
(Tuesday 23rd June 2009)
-----------------------------------------------

- Jelena Dokic [EF] lt. Tatjana Malek [Q], 6-3 5-7 2-6

Jelena led 6-3 5-4*, and was three points from victory at 15/30* in that game.

According to the BBC, Jelena was feeling faint in the second set, and called for
the doctor. She also looked a little overweight compared with how she looked at
the Australian Open.

Jelena: "Maybe it's a virus or something. I was aching a little bit, and I was
dizzy. Maybe I should have called the trainer earlier.
But I was still feeling pretty bad in the third set, so I don't know whether it
would have made any difference."

Jelena dominated the match with either winners or errors, with a W:UE ratio of
43:49 (17:9 for the first set, then 26:40 for the next two combined) to Malek's
21:6. Jelena served a monstrous 16 double faults, while Malek served 10 aces.

A big difference between the first set and the next two was that Jelena's
second-serve winning-percentage dipped from 64% to 21%.

Jelena went to the net a lot, which is unusual for her - perhaps a new strategy
for grass, or perhaps because of her injury? She won 22 of 40 points there.

They had 11 BPs each, but Jelena only broke four times to Malek's five, winning
the first set by 2 breaks to 0, but losing the second set by 1 break to 2, and
the third by 1 break to 3.


First set
---------
DOKIC _*@* * *@ 6
MALEK *___* *__ 3

The match was first on Court 7, and started at 12:07 BST.

Malek serving 15/30. 15/40 (BPx2). Deuce. Ad Malek. Held.
Jelena serving 0-1: 0/15. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Held.
Malek serving 1-1: 15/0. 15/30. 15/40 (BPx2). Deuce.
Ad Jelena (BP #2). Broken.
Jelena serving 2-1: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/30. Held.
Malek serving 1-3: 0/15. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. Held.
Jelena serving 3-2: 0/15. 40/15. Held.
Malek serving 2-4: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. Held.
Jelena serving 4-3: 0/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Held.
Malek serving 3-5: 0/40 (SP #1). 15/40 (SP #2). 30/40 (SP #3).
Jelena won the first set 6-3 at 12:35 BST (28m).

Jelena did well to convert 30/40, which is always difficult after missing two
BPs at 0/40.


Second set
----------
DOKIC *___* *@*___ 5
MALEK _*@* *___*@* 7

Jelena serving 0-0: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. Held.
Malek serving 0-1: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce. Ad Malek. Held.
Jelena serving 1-1: 15/0. 15/40 (BP). Broken.
Malek serving 2-1: 40/0. Held.

I could do with Jelena breaking back and finishing this in two sets to avoid a
clash with Nicole Vaidišová, as Leonardo Mayer is currently 6-0 6-0 up against
Óscar Hernández! Jelena was the first player other than Mayer to win a set
today.

Jelena serving 1-3: 0/30. 40/30. Held.
Malek serving 3-2: 40/0. 40/30. Held.
Jelena serving 2-4: 15/0. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Deuce. Ad Jelena. Held.

Time for Jelena to break back...

Malek serving 4-3: 0/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 4-4: 15/0. 15/30. 40/30. Held.

Well, Hernández has just bought Jelena a bit more time by winning a game to
avoid the triple bagel, but it would still be nice to finish this match by
breaking in the next game!

Malek serving 4-5: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Jelena serving 5-5: 0/30. Broken.

Darn it. Mayer now leads 6-0 6-0 4-1*, so I'll have to follow Jelena and Nicole
in parallel if this goes to a third set. When I did that for Lucie Šafárová and
Magdaléna Rybáriková yesterday, I lost them both.

Malek serving 6-5: 0/15. 40/15 (SP #1). Malek won the second set 7-5 at 13:13
BST (second set 38m, match so far 1h06m).


Third set
---------
DOKIC _@__*___ 2
MALEK @ @* *@* 6

The third set didn't start scoring until 13:21 BST, which suggests that Jelena
and/or Malek took a bathroom-break.

Jelena serving 0-0: 15/15. 15/40 (BP). Broken.

What's wrong with Jelena? Has her back flared up?

Malek serving 1-0: 0/40 (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 1-1: 0/15. 15/30. 15/40 (BP #1). 30/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Malek serving 2-1: 40/0. Held.
Jelena serving 1-3: 15/0. 15/40 (BPx2). Deuce #1. Ad Malek (BP #3). Deuce #2. Ad
Jelena. Held.

Now Nicole Vaidišová is starting, so I have to divide my attention...

Malek serving 3-2: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. Held.
Jelena serving 2-4: 0/30. 15/30. 15/40 (BP #1). 30/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Malek serving 5-2: 30/0. 30/40 (BP). Deuce. Ad Malek (MP #1).
Malek won 3-6 7-5 6-2 at 13:49 BST (third set 36m, match 1h42m).

I saw the last point in a BBC round-up: Malek hit a body-jamming serve; Jelena
hit a respectable forehand return; they exchanged crosscourt forehands; Malek
hit a very short forehand dropshot
(I don't think she meant it), forcing Jelena to spray a forehand wide.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

=================
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Wimbledon, England; grass; Major)
================= http://www.wimbledon.org/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. First-round draw
3. Jelena Dokic preview
4. Andrew's wishes
5. Order of play for Tuesday

Master-thread for my Wimbledon 2009 reports:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=382860

---------
1. Photos
---------

The following links will be useful throughout the tournament, but I shall post
them only once:

Galleries of many players:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/gallery?cap=1&pg=1 (latest 200 only)
http://www.tennis.com/photogallery/photogallery.aspx?pgid=1
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/photos.html
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/photos/

Where to search for specific players:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/players/
http://news.yahoo.com/
http://www.fotosports.com/
Getty Images

-------------------
2. First-round draw
-------------------

The players on the left are the ones I want to win.


First quarter (Nicole Vaidišová, Anna Chakvetadze)
-------------

N.B. Kristína Kucová [LL,S] has replaced Katarina Srebotnik, who hasn't played
since October 2008 due to left-Achilles and left-ankle injuries.

* DINARA SAFINA [1] v Lourdes Domínguez Lino (Safina is Nicole's prey)
* Nicole Vaidišová [EF] v Rossana de los Ríos (POJDME NICOLE!!)
* Alyona Bondarenko v Elena Baltacha [WC] (my loyalty is to Alyona)
* Kirsten Flipkens v ÁGNES SZÁVAY [30] (I think I still prefer Kirsten, although
Ágnes has been growing on me)

* Melinda Czink v AMÉLIE MAURESMO [17] (anyone but Mauresmo)
* Kristína Kucová [LL,S] v Aiko Nakamura [Q,S] (my loyalty is to Kristína)
* Mariya Koryttseva v Vania King
* FLAVIA PENNETTA [15,DF] v Nuria Llagostera Vives (forza Flavia!)

* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [9] v Kimiko Date Krumm [WC] (my loyalty is to Caroline)
* Maria Kirilenko [DF] v Petra Kvitová (davai Maria!)
* Alberta Brianti [Q] v Tathiana Garbin
* Marta Domachowska v ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [20] (my loyalty is to Marta)

* ANNA CHAKVETADZE [32,EF] v Sabine Lisicki [DF] (my loyalty is to ANNA)
* Patricia Mayr v Anne Keothavong
* Pauline Parmentier v Akgul Amanmuradova
* Akiko Morigami [S] v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [5] (ganbatte Akiko!)


Second quarter (Jelena Dokic)
--------------

* Stefanie Vögele v VENUS WILLIAMS [3] (hopp Stefanie!)
* Anastasija Sevastova [Q] v Kateryna Bondarenko
* Ekaterina Makarova v Barbora Záhlavová Strýcová
* Carla Suárez Navarro v KAIA KANEPI [25]

* SAMANTHA STOSUR [18] v Bethanie Mattek-Sands
* Jelena Dokic [EF] v Tatjana Malek [Q] (my loyalty is to JELENA)
* Sara Errani v Stéphanie Dubois
* ANA IVANOVIC [13,DF] v Lucie Hradecká [S] (my loyalty is to Ana)

* María José Martínez Sánchez v AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [11]
* Peng,Shuai [S] v Alexa Glatch [WC] (jia you Shuai!)
* Olga Govortsova v Tatiana Perebiynis (tough choice, but I think I prefer Olga)
* LI,NA [19] v Galina Voskoboeva

* SYBILLE BAMMER [29] v Melanie Oudin [Q]
* Yaroslava Shvedova v Monica Niculescu [S] (my Reason says Monica, but my
Passion says Yaroslava)
* Iveta Benešová v Katie O'Brien [WC] (my loyalty is to Iveta)
* Julia Görges v JELENA JANKOVIC [6] (komm jetzt Julia!)


Third quarter (Vera Zvonarëva)
-------------

* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v Georgie Stoop [WC], 7-6 (7/0) 4-6 0-0*
* Mathilde Johansson won
* Jill Craybas won
* VIRGINIE RAZZANO [26] won

* Francesca Schiavone won
* Michelle Larcher de Brito [WC] won
* Timea Bacsinszky won
* MARION BARTOLI [12,DF,S] won

* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [14] won
* Urszula Radwanska won
* Elena Vesnina won
* ALIZÉ CORNET [22] v Vera Dushevina, 6-3 0-6 *2-4

* ALISA KLEYBANOVA [27] won
* Regina Kulikova [Q] won
* Aravane Rezaď won
* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] won


Fourth quarter (Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchová)
--------------

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [8,DF] won
* Ioana Raluca Olaru won
* Sania Mirza [DF] won
* SORANA CÎRSTEA [28] won

* MARIA SHARAPOVA [24,EF] won
* Gisela Dulko [DF] won
* Shahar Pe'er won
* NADIA PETROVA [10] won

* ZHENG,JIE [16] won
* Daniela Hantuchová [EF] won
* Arantxa Parra Santonja [Q,S] won
* Ai Sugiyama won

* ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA [31] won
* Roberta Vinci won
* Jarmila Groth won
* SERENA WILLIAMS [2] won

-----------------------
3. Jelena Dokic preview
-----------------------

Jelena made an amazing comeback to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian
Open ranked #187 (she is now #75) - beating world #80 Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4,
#18 Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 6-3, #12 Caroline Wozniacki 3-6 6-1 6-2, and #31
Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 5-7 8-6 before losing 6-4 4-6 6-4 to #3 Dinara Safina.

But Jelena warned us at the time that it would be difficult to keep up that
form, and so it has proved. She won two matches to qualify for Memphis, but
Wozniacki took a 6-1 6-2 revenge. She lost 6-4 6-2 to #102 Jill Craybas at
Indian Wells, and blamed tiredness due to a bad schedule of tournaments.

After beating #68 Edina Gallovits at Miami, Jelena lost to Wozniacki again -
this time 6-3 5-7 6-2 - then pulled out of Ponte Vedra Beach with sports-fatigue
syndrome.

Jelena contributed a win over Stefanie Vögele to Australia's Fed Cup victory
over Switzerland in the World Group II play-offs, then reached the semi-finals
of ITF Bucharest, but lost 6-1 3-6 6-1 to #141 Andrea Petkovic.

Jelena lost 6-4 6-3 to #106 Ioana Raluca Olaru in the first round of Warsaw,
describing it as "probably my worst match in the last two years."

Jelena beat #91 Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the French
Open, and was leading #4 Elena Dementieva 6-2 *2-1 before tragedy struck: at 6-2
*3-4, she retired in floods of tears with a low-back injury.

Jelena has recently had to deal with yet more controversy from her father Damir,
who threatened to blow up the car of the Australian ambassador in Serbia over
articles in the Australian media confirming what I suspected ten years ago: that
he physically abused Jelena.
The police raided his house, finding guns and bombs, and he is now serving a
15-month prison-sentence.

Personally, I'm very glad to see Damir finally getting a small percentage of the
jail-time he deserves for the way he treated Jelena (albeit for different
crimes), but apparently she is "distressed and saddened" about his arrest, which
is understandable as, after all, he is still her father. Apparently his health
has taken a turn for the worse: already 50 and diabetic, he had to be treated
for hypertension while waiting to be sentenced. My heart bleeds for him.

Fortunately, the damage to Jelena's back is not believed to be long-term,
although she did have to pull out of Birmingham and Eastbourne, much to my
disappointment. She did actually go to Eastbourne to practise - rather than
visiting Damir in Serbia, as rumoured - but skipped the tournament as a
precaution, and should be fit for Wimbledon.

Jelena starts against Tatjana Malek, and could then face a very tough
second-round match against fellow Australian Samantha Stosur, who reached the
semi-finals of the French Open, and whose serve-and-volley game can do a lot of
damage on grass.

Should Jelena get past that one, she could be facing Ana Ivanovic in the third
round, and defending champion Venus Williams in the fourth round.


First-round preview: Dokic v Malek
----------------------------------

Jelena will be facing world #101 Tatjana Malek for the first time. The
21-year-old's career doesn't have any scary highlights as far as I can see, but
she has an impressive 28:10 record for 2009 so far (including
Wimbledon-qualifying) - achieved mainly on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Malek reached the second round of the Australian Open by beating #77 Ayumi
Morita 7-6 6-2, and lost 6-2 6-2 to #8 Svetlana Kuznetsova.

In February, Malek won ITF Stockholm, beating #240 Anikó Kapros 6-3 6-2 in the
final.

She then lost in the second qualifying-rounds of both Indian Wells and Miami -
book-ended by two second-round losses on the ITF circuit.

Malek reached the quarter-finals of WTA Barcelona as a qualifier, beating #89
Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the first round, and benefiting from
Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro's retirement in the second round. She lost 6-4 6-0 to #27
Carla Suárez Navarro.

In April, Malek won ITF Makarska, beating #140 Lenka Wienerová 4-6 7-5 6-1 in
the semi-finals, and #317 Simona Halep 6-1 4-6 6-4 in the final.

She fell in the third qualifying-round of the French Open: 7-6 3-6 6-1 to #130
Yvonne Meusburger. She then reached the quarter-finals of ITF Marseille, beating
#115 Marta Domachowska 7-5 6-2, but losing to #131 Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 6-1.

Malek has played one previous Wimbledon: 2007, losing 6-1 6-4 to Kaia Kanepi in
the first round.

Malek has qualified for Wimbledon with the following results:
1q + Julia Vakulenko, 6-2 6-3
2q + Anastasia Rodionova, 6-3 2-6 6-2
3q + Madison Brengle, 6-0 6-3

This year's Jelena wouldn't have any problems against Malek if she were fully
fit, but since this will be her first match since retiring from the French Open,
there is a question-mark over her. Still, this is a kind first-round draw, so I
expect a win.

------------------
4. Andrew's wishes
------------------

Jelena Dokic [EF]:
1r + Tatjana Malek [Q]
2r + SAMANTHA STOSUR [18]
3r + ANA IVANOVIC [13,DF]
4r + Stefanie Vögele
qf + Iveta Benešová
sf + ANNA CHAKVETADZE [32,EF]
_f + VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF]

Jelena deserves the title more than anyone, because she's a brilliant player who
has been through Hell.

----------------------------
5. Order of play for Tuesday
----------------------------

Court 7 (start 12:00 BST = 11:00 GMT)
WS 1r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v Tatjana Malek [Q]
MS 1r: Fabio Fognini v Denis Istomin
WS 1r: FLAVIA PENNETTA [15,DF] v Nuria Llagostera Vives
WS 1r: María José Martínez Sánchez v AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [11]

Full order of play:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

=============
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Major)
============= http://www.rolandgarros.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. Second-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Dementieva
3. Women's Doubles: Second-round result

---------
1. Photos
---------

Jelena Dokic [EF]:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/players/overview/wta040344.html
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=dokic

Thursday's (28th May) players including Jelena:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8071990.stm

-----------------------------------------------------
2. Second-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Dementieva
(Thursday 28th May 2009)
-----------------------------------------------------

- Jelena Dokic [EF] lt. ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4], 6-2 *3-4 retired (low-back injury)

Poor, sore Jelena. She dominated the first set like she was back to her best,
and led the world #4 by a set and a break (6-2 *2-1).

But her back went at 2-2* (15/0*). After a nine-minute delay - during which she
took an off-court medical time-out - she tried to continue in tears and pain,
and even reinstated her break for *3-2! But she won only two points in the next
two games, and retired at *3-4.

The pain must have been absolutely unbearable for her to retire at 20:40 CEST -
about 20 minutes before they tend to suspend matches for bad light at the end of
a set. Could she really not have just hit some underarm serves, stood still to
receive serve, come off for the night at a set all, and got hours of treatment
before the match resumed on Friday?

I sincerely hope this injury won't put pain to Jelena's plans to play Birmingham
and Wimbledon!


First set
---------
DOKIC @* *@* * 6
DEMEN __*___*_ 2

The match was fifth on Court 1, and started at 19:25 CEST. I followed live
scores at www.rolandgarros.com while BBC Red Button showed Monfils v Crivoi.

Dementieva serving 0-0: 0/40 (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 1-0: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.

What a start! Of course Dementieva made a 0-3* start to her first match and
still managed to win in straight sets, but with all due respect to Chanelle
Scheepers, she's playing a different class of opponent today.

Dementieva serving 0-2: 15/0. 15/30. 40/30. Held.
Jelena serving 2-1: 0/30. 40/30. Deuce #1. Ad Jelena. Deuce #2.
Ad Dementieva (BP #1). Deuce #3. Ad Jelena. Deuce #4. Ad Dementieva (BP #2).
Deuce #5. Ad Dementieva (BP #3). Deuce #6. Ad Jelena. Held.

Well recovered from 0/30 and then three break-points - what a game!

Dementieva serving 1-3: 0/40 (BP #1). 30/40 (BP #3). Broken.

Now Monfils v Crivoi has finished, but BBC Red Button has ended its live
transmission rather than show this match! :fiery:

Jelena serving 4-1: 0/30. 40/30. Held.
Dementieva serving 1-5: 30/0. 30/40 (SP #1). Deuce. Ad Dementieva. Held.

Now the moment of truth for Jelena: can she serve it out?

Jelena serving 5-2: 0/15. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Deuce. Ad Jelena (SP #2).
Jelena won the first set 6-2 at 19:59 CEST (34m).

Well, one thing's for sure: Jelena's not going to lose today, because there
wouldn't be enough light for a third set. [Boy did I jinx her by writing that!]


Second set
----------
DOKIC _*@ @__ 3 retired
DEMEN *__@ @* 4

Dementieva serving 0-0: 0/15. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce.
Ad Dementieva. Held.
Jelena serving 0-1: 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 40/30. Held.
Dementieva serving 1-1: 0/30. 15/30. 15/40 (BP). Broken.

A set and a break up! :D

Jelena serving 2-1: 0/40 (BP #1). 30/40 (BP #3). Broken.

Not any more. :(

Dementieva serving 2-2: 0/15. Long delay from 20:22 CEST... so I went to the
live-scores thread on tennisforum.com, and found that Jelena has collapsed with
back-pain! :sad:

Chiakifug: "Jelena cant bend forward and struggled to sit down.
She looks in tears... She went for a serve then pulled up. Didnt look serious at
the time but obviously is."
<http://www.tennisforum.com/showpost.php?p=15747301>

Play continued at 20:31 CEST. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Broken!

Wow - a miracle for Jelena! But she's still crying.

Jelena serving 3-2: 0/30. 15/30. 15/40 (BP). Broken.
Dementieva serving 3-3: 40/0. 40/15. Held.

I guess Jelena can only try to hang on until it gets suspended for darkness, and
hopefully come back better tomorrow... but no: Dementieva won 2-6 4-3* retired
at 20:40 CEST (second set 41m, match 1h15m).


Statistics
----------

Jelena got 61% of her first serves in, winning 61% of the points when she did
so, and 48% on second serve. Her winning-percentages dipped from (65%, 57%) for
the first set to (50%, 29%) for the second.

Dementieva got 67% of her first serves in, winning 50% of the points when she
did so, and 44% on second serve. From the first set to the second, she traded
her first-serve percentages (from 71% in, 53% won to 63%, 47% won) for a higher
second-serve winning-percentage (29% to 56%).

Jelena served one ace and 2 double faults, Dementieva 2 aces and 6 double
faults.

They each had a fastest serve of 110mph. Jelena's average serves were faster
than Dementieva's (first serve 103-100mph, second serve 96-88mph).

Jelena had a W:UE ratio of 13:20 to Dementieva's 15:20.

Jelena broke 4 times (twice in each set) from 9 BPs, Dementieva just twice (only
in the second set) from 8 BPs.

In a baseline-oriented match, Jelena won 1 of 3 points at the net, Dementieva 3
of 3.

In points, Jelena won 55-47 (first set 36-25, second set 19-22).


Articles
--------

Injury halts Dokic [Teletext 495->497]
>>>
Agony for Dokic [Teletext 497]

Jelena Dokic was denied the chance of a major upset against Elena Dementieva in
the French Open when injury forced her to retire when leading in round two.

The Australian was back to her best as she took the first set 6-2, but then hurt
her back at 2-2 in the second set.

A tearful Dokic received treatment and tried to carry on, but she was forced to
pull out three games later, putting Dementieva through to the third round.
<<<

Dementieva advances after Dokic retires (AP)
>>>
Elena Dementieva advanced to the third round of the French Open when Jelena
Dokic retired with a back-injury while leading 6-2 3-4 on Thursday.

Dokic turned for a backhand during the fifth game of the second set, grimaced in
pain, and called time. She then reached toward the lower part of her back, and
gingerly walked toward her chair to call for a trainer.

She returned to the court and broke Dementieva to take a 3-2 lead, but then
cried into her towel during the changeover. After losing the next two games,
Dokic stopped.

The fourth-seeded Dementieva has reached at least the semi-finals at every Major
event. She lost in the finals of the 2004 French Open and US Open.
<<<

Sobbing Dokic retires hurt while leading Dementieva (Reuters)
By Pritha Sarkar (editing by Sonia Oxley)
>>>
Jelena Dokic left Roland Garros in floods of tears after retiring hurt with a
back-injury. The Australian had fourth seed Elena Dementieva on the run for over
an hour, but was left sobbing when she had to quit while leading 6-2 3-4.

"It will be hard to swallow this... very disappointing, considering that I was
up and I was playing well," said Dokic.

Dementieva added: "I really didn't deserve to win this match, because of the way
I was playing."
<<<

Tearful Dokic retires, Dementieva advances (Reuters)
By Sonia Oxley (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
* Sobbing Dokic retires with back-injury while leading.
* Dementieva says she did not deserve to go through.

Jelena Dokic left the court in floods of tears on Thursday after retiring with a
back-injury while leading by a set in her French Open second round match against
Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva.

"It's a shock and a disappointment," the Australian former world number-four
told a news-conference after quitting with the score at 6-2 3-4 against.

"I felt like I had the match in my hands and I was doing well, and even if I
didn't win, I was playing really well... I felt like I probably played the best
tennis that I played this year."

Dokic - appearing at her first French Open since 2004 - appeared to pull
something in her lower back at 2-2 in the second set, and went off court to
receive treatment from the tournament-trainer.

She returned to break Dementieva despite crying between points.

"I just went down and couldn't come back up. I don't know what it is yet. It was
very painful, and I just hope it's not too serious," said Dokic, who sobbed
uncontrollably into her towel after retiring while Dementieva came over to
comfort her.

Dokic, who rolled her ankle in her last-16 match at the Australian Open, said
she was not having much luck at the Majors on her comeback-trail after a
troubled few years.

"Obviously, it's not my time at the Grand Slams," said Dokic.
"I'm not 15 anymore, so it's time probably to take more care now, and I just
really, really hope it's nothing serious.

"I was supposed to play doubles tomorrow. I don't think that will happen."

Dementieva was full of sympathy for her opponent.

"It feels bad to win this way, and it must be hard on her. She was very solid.
It's bad luck for her," the Russian - who next faces Dokic's compatriot Samantha
Stosur - told reporters.

"I didn't deserve to win this match."
<<<

Tennis-aces Federer, Venus win; French hail fab five (AFP)
>>>
There was a tearful and painful exit for troubled Australian Jelena Dokic, who
is steadily trying to rebuild her career.

The 26-year-old, playing here for the first time in five years, was heading for
victory over Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva when she was forced to retire
with a crippling lower-back injury when she was 6-2 3-4 ahead.

Dokic slumped in her chair and burst into tears while Dementieva attempted to
console her.

"I went for a return, and I just went down and couldn't get back up," said
Dokic.

"It's very painful and very disappointing, because I felt as if I had the match
in my hands."
<<<

Venus digs deep to make progress (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8071828.stm
>>>
And there was heartbreak for Australia's Jelena Dokic, who looked on course for
a major upset when she led fourth seed Elena Dementieva by a set and a break.

The former world number four - currently ranked 80th - suffered a back-injury,
and left the court in floods of tears for treatment at 2-2 in the second set.

She returned some time later and, incredibly, broke serve immediately, despite
hobbling between points and remaining visibly emotional.

But it was the briefest of recoveries, and Dokic was forced to retire at 6-2
3-4, Dementieva consoling her opponent as she left the court in tears for the
second time in 10 minutes.

"I went for a return, and I just went down and couldn't get back up," said
Dokic, who will undergo a scan in Paris on Friday to judge the exact nature of
the problem.

"It's very painful. I hope it's not too serious. It's very disappointing,
because I felt as if I had the match in my hands."
<<<

Despondent Dokic hoping for the best (ABC News, Friday 29th May 2009)
>>>
A tearful Jelena Dokic is hoping the latest painful twist in her life-story of
turmoil will not mean another prolonged absence from tennis.

The 26-year-old Australian was poised for a famous French Open victory over
Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva - before she was forced to concede the
second-round tie due to crippling back-pain that left her barely able to walk.

Dokic -playing her first Roland Garros in five years after her well-documented
personal and professional strife - raced through the first set 6-2 against the
2004 runner-up, and was 2-2 in the second when disaster struck.

Running down a Dementieva service, she pulled up, ramrod straight, holding her
lower back and wincing in pain.

As she wept courtside, she was allowed a medical timeout, and when she returned
to Court One, she even managed to break to lead 3-2.

But by this stage, she was reduced to walking-pace on the baseline and, after
losing the next two games, she shook hands with the Russian.

"It was very painful, and I just hope it's not too serious," said the
heartbroken former world number-four.

"I felt like I had the match in my hands. I felt like I probably played the best
tennis that I've played this year. It's very disappointing.

"I just hope it will be okay, and it won't take too much time for it to get
better."

Dokic won sympathetic applause from the Court One crowd, while even Dementieva
attempted to console her stricken opponent.

"Nothing like that has ever happened to me except when I rolled my ankle at the
Australian Open, so obviously it's not my time at the Grand Slams," Dokic said.

"But it happens. I'm not 15 anymore, so it's time to take more care now, and I
just really, really hope it's nothing serious."

Dokic was taking part in her first French Open since 2004, having made an
emotional run to the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year, when she
was ranked #187, and with her career and life seemingly in a tailspin.

She won her opening-round match, coming back from a set down to defeat Croatia's
Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

Ironically, had she won overnight, she would have faced compatriot Samantha
Stosur for a place in the last 16.

The 30th-seeded Stosur beat Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 4-6 6-4, while
Jarmila Groth saw off Mariana Duque of Colombia 6-2 7-6 (11/9).

However, Australian teenager Olivia Rogowska was knocked out by Ukraine's
Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6 7-5 7-5.
<<<

Dokic cleared of serious injury (The Sydney Morning Herald)
(Belinda Tasker and Ivo Šcepanovic, Sunday 31st May 2009)
>>>
Tennis comeback-queen Jelena Dokic is expected to bounce back from the
excruciating back-injury that cruelly forced her out of the French Open.

The Australian saw doctors in Paris on Friday after injuring her lower back the
previous day, when she led by a set and was dominating her second-round match
against Russian world No.4 Elena Dementieva at Roland Garros.

Dokic, 26, underwent treatment on her back and an MRI-scan to determine whether
the injury could spell the end of the former world No.4's comeback-dreams.

But her management said the doctors believed Dokic would suffer no permanent
damage.

"It's a day-by-day process at the moment," the spokesman said.
"But we don't believe it will be anything long-term."

In Serbia, her estranged father Damir Dokic went on trial after he allegedly
threatened to kill the Australian ambassador to Belgrade.

If found guilty of endangering Ambassador Clare Birgin's security and owning
illegal weapons, Mr. Dokic could serve up to eight years in jail.

The brief hearing was held behind closed doors in the northern Serbian town of
Ruma, the judge explaining he wanted to protect the ambassador's privacy and
maintain good relations with Australia. However, Mr. Dokic objected, saying he
wanted "everything to be known".

The judge heard from a number of witnesses before adjourning the trial until
11th June.

Mr. Dokic has been ordered to remain in custody, despite pleas from his lawyer
that the 50-year-old - who has diabetes - be granted bail.

He was arrested on 6th May at his home in Vrdnik - about 60 kilometres north of
Belgrade - after allegedly telephoning the Australian embassy in the Serbian
capital and threatening to blow up Birgin's car with a grenade-launcher.

Police also allegedly found a cache of illegal weapons - including two home-made
bombs - at his home.

He has said the threats were a joke because he was angry over an interview his
daughter gave Sport&Style, which claimed he had physically abused his daughter.

Jelena has refused to discuss the controversy surrounding her father.

Making her first appearance at Roland Garros since 2004 - she reached the
quarter-finals in her Major comeback at the Australian Open in January - Dokic
was devastated to have to pull out of the tournament.

She had been poised to win an upset against Dementieva and cruise into the third
round to face compatriot Samantha Stosur.
<<<

---------------------------------------
3. Women's Doubles: Second-round result (Friday 29th May 2009)
---------------------------------------

- Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova lt.
(CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER)[1], walkover (Jelena's lower-back injury)

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

How can you send a note of encouragement to Jelena?

--- On Thu, 5/28/09, andrewbroad <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


From: andrewbroad <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] French Open: Andrew's first-round report
To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
Received: Thursday, May 28, 2009, 12:06 AM








============ =
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Major)
============ = http://www.rolandga rros.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Ĺ prem
3. Second-round draw
4. Second-round preview: Dokic v Dementieva
5. Women's Doubles: First round
6. Order of play for Thursday

My French Open 2009 master-thread:
http://www.tennisfo rum.com/showthre ad.php?t= 379808

---------
1. Photos
---------

Galleries of many players:
http://sports. yahoo.com/ ten/gallery? cap=1&pg= 1 (latest 200 only)
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ sport1/hi/ tennis/8065901. stm
http://uk.eurosport .yahoo.com/ tennis/photos. html
http://www.rolandga rros.com/ en_FR/news/ photos/

Where to search for specific players:
http://www.rolandga rros.com/ en_FR/news/ photos/players. html
http://www.australi anopen.com/ en_AU/bios/ indexw.html
http://news. yahoo.com/
http://www.fotospor ts.com/
Getty Images

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Ĺ prem
(Tuesday 26th May 2009)
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Karolina Ĺ prem [DF], 3-6 6-1 6-2

Jelena made a bad start to her first French Open match since 2004, going *0-3
down. She broke back for *3-4, but Karolina reinstated her break immediately,
then served out the first set 6-3.

Jelena faced a break-point in the first game of the second set, but after saving
it, she took complete control, racing to a 5-0* lead and taking the second set
6-1.

In the third set, Karolina dropped serve from *1-1 (40/0), and another five-game
winning-streak put Jelena 5-1* up. Karolina held for 2-5* after being taken to
deuce, but couldn't stop Jelena serving out to 15 to reach the second round of
the French Open for the first time since 2003.

Jelena had a negative W:UE ratio of 19:28 (including a disastrous 4:13 for the
first set), while Karolina was seemingly the less aggressive, as hers was 13:16.
Jelena also served 6 aces and 9 double faults.

First set
---------
DOKIC ___* *@__ 3
Ĺ PREM *@* *__@* 6

The match was second on Court 6, and started at 17:27 CEST. I got a little bit
sidetracked watching the amazing KlĂĄra ZakopalovĂĄ v Serena Williams match on
BBC Red Button, and missed the first two games on the scoreboard.

Karolina serving 2-0: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Jelena serving 0-3: 30/0. 40/30. Held.
Karolina serving 3-1: 40/0. 40/30. Held.
Jelena serving 1-4: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Karolina serving 4-2: 0/40 (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 3-4: 0/40 (BP #1). 15/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Karolina serving 5-3: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15 (SP #1). 40/30 (SP #2). Karolina won
the first set 6-3 at 17:56 (29m).

Second set
----------
DOKIC *@*@* * 6
Ĺ PREM _____*_ 1

Jelena serving 0-0: 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Deuce.
Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 0-1: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/30. Deuce.
Ad Jelena (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 2-0: 40/0. Held.
Karolina serving 0-3: 0/40 (BP #1). 15/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Jelena serving 4-0: Held to love.
Karolina serving 0-5: 40/0. Deuce. Ad Karolina. Held.
Jelena serving 5-1: 15/0. 40/15 (SP). Jelena won the second set 6-1 at 18:24
(second set 28m, match so far 57m).

Third set
---------
DOKIC _*@*@* * 6
Ĺ PREM *_____*_ 2

Karolina serving 0-0: 30/0. 30/15. Held.
Jelena serving 0-1: 30/0. Held.
Karolina serving 1-1: 40/0. Deuce. Ad Jelena (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 2-1: 15/15. 30/30. Deuce. Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 1-3: 0/15. 30/40 (BP). Broken.

Serena Williams finally beat KlĂĄra ZakopalovĂĄ on her ninth match-point after
failing to serve out the match in both the second and third sets, so at last I
can give this match my proper attention!

Not much to say, really, as Jelena seems to be in complete control after
dropping the first set.

Jelena serving 4-1: 30/0. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce #1. Ad Jelena.
Deuce #2. Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 1-5: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce.
Ad Karolina. Held.

A scrappy couple of games, but surely too little too late for Karolina.

Jelena serving 5-2: 40/0 (MP #1). 40/15 (MP #2).
Jelena won 3-6 6-1 6-2 at 18:57 (third set 33m, match 1h30m).

Articles
--------

Serena struggles, Ðokovic eases through in Paris tennis (AFP)
>>>
There was an emotional return to Roland Garros - after a five-year absence - for
Australia's Jelena Dokic.

The 26-year-old, whose career and life were in a tailspin until a magical run to
the Australian Open quarter-finals this year, beat Croatia's Karolina Ĺ prem 3-6
6-1 6-2.

It was her first victory at Roland Garros since she reached the second round in
2003. She played and lost the first round in the following year.

"This is only my sixth tournament since the Australian Open, and I feel good.
It's a good sign that I was able to turn it around after losing the first set,"
said world number 80 Dokic.

"It's been five years since I played here, and only my second Grand Slam [sic]
in four years. It all feels kind of new."

Dokic - a quarter-finalist in 2002 - will now face Russian fourth seed Elena
Dementieva for a place in the last 32.
<<<

Jelena Dokic and Sam Stosur move into second round of French Open in Paris (Fox
Sports / AAP)
>>>
Australian duo Samantha Stosur and Jelena Dokic have cruised through to the
second round of the French Open on a day with few surprises among the women.

Dokic - a former world No.4 - came from behind to win her first-round match
against 24-year-old Croatian Karolina Ĺ prem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

It was Dokic's first appearance at the tournament since 2004, when she was
bundled out in the opening round.

The 26-year-old didn't have the best start, misfiring shots during some
determined battles with the No.91-ranked Ĺ prem.

But the world No.80 bounced back, breaking Ĺ prem early on in the second set and
again in the third, celebrating with a shout of "come on" to the crowd before
she wrapped up the match in 90 minutes.

Dokic has been trying to make a comeback after battling depression for several
years.

She made the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January, and sliced nearly
100 places off her ranking to reach No.80 this week.

But her performance has been patchy since Melbourne, having withdrawn from Ponte
Vedra Beach and Charlestown in April citing fatigue, and then losing the first
round of the Warsaw Open to qualifier Ioana Raluca Olaru.

"It's the second Grand Slam [sic] of the year that I've gotten past the first
round, so I have to be happy with that," Dokic told reporters.

"It was not going to be an easy match [against Ĺ prem].

"She's played pretty well this year, and maybe she was even a favourite coming
into this match, because I haven't had so many matches in the last few months,
and I didn't play so well the last two weeks, three weeks.

"But I was really, really strong mentally today, and I'm happy with the way I
came back."

Dokic faces a tough challenge in her second-round match against world No.4 Elena
Dementieva from Russia, who beat South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-4 6-3.
<<<

The Ticker (Kamakshi Tandon, TENNIS.com)
http://tennis. com/news/ ticker.aspx
>>>
Jelena Dokic defeats Karolina Ĺ prem 3-6 6-1 6-2 to set up a match with Elena
Dementieva in the next round. "There's absolutely no pressure in that match, and
I can just go out and try and do my best," said Dokic.

She said she had been surprised by the spectator-interest in her first-round
match, which featured two fallen prodigies who also have a coaching-link.
Dokic's coach Borna Bikic was once the coach and boyfriend of Ĺ prem. Dokic's
long-time boyfriend Tin Bikic is Borna's brother. "I actually honestly didn't
think that many people would watch, and there's a lot of, you know, other, you
know, great players playing," said Dokic.

Dokic refused to comment about recent events involving her estranged father,
Damir, saying, "I'm not answering any questions regarding my father, regarding
my personal life, at all."

Earlier this month in an interview with _Sport & Style_, Jelena confirmed that
her father had beaten her during her early teens, while he was serving as her
coach on the Tour. Damir Dokic has been charged with threatening the Australian
ambassador in Belgrade while calling to demand an investigation into the
interview.
<<<

Dokic thanks Australians for rekindling her passion (Reuters)
By Pritha Sarkar (editing by Sonia Oxley)
>>>
Jelena Dokic, playing at the French Open for the first time since 2004, thanked
her adopted country Australia on Tuesday for rekindling her passion for tennis.

Dokic, who was born in former Yugoslavia, marked her return to Roland Garros by
downing Croat Karolina Ĺ prem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

After booking a second-round date with Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva, she
said she could not have made it back on to the big stage if it had not been for
the support she got during her emotional journey to January's Australian Open
quarter-finals.

"Those people in Australia have probably brought my career back on track. I will
be grateful to them for the rest of my life," the former world number-four - now
ranked 80th - told a news-conference.

"No matter how hard it is on Tour sometimes, every week when you play, I always
try to remember that, because that's what brought me back."

Since her unexpected run in Melbourne, her form has dipped, and she has not
managed to win back-to-back matches on the main Tour. However, since she has had
to overcome greater obstacles, including breaking links with her domineering
father Damir, she was not about to get too disheartened.

"Coming into the Grand Slam [sic], I was a little bit shaky, but it's a very
good sign that I was able to turn around and still be able to play a fairly good
match today," she said.

"I'm number 80 in the world, so I have nothing to defend for the rest of the
year. I have pretty high goals.

"Even though I haven't played as well as I wanted to since the Australian Open,
I've still had good wins - and I've only played four events. Considering all
that, I think I'm on the right track."
<<<

Dad's off limits as Dokic wins on French Open return (AFP)
>>>
Australia's Jelena Dokic continued her professional and personal rehabilitation
on Tuesday when she clinched her first win at the French Open for six years, but
insisted her controversial father was off limits.

The 26-year-old, whose career and life were in a tailspin until a magical run to
the Australian Open quarter-finals this year, battled back from a set down to
defeat Croatia's Karolina Ĺ prem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

It was her first victory at Roland Garros since she reached the second round in
2003. She played and lost the first round in the following year.

Tuesday's win was even more remarkable, given the latest turmoil involving her
estranged father Damir, who has been charged with threatening the Australian
ambassador to Serbia, and illegal possession of firearms.

"I'm not answering any questions regarding my father or regarding my personal
life, at all," she said.

"I've answered a lot of questions in Australia. I've answered a lot of questions
over the last four or five years. I think everybody knows the story.

"I really don't think there's anything further that I should talk about. There
is no reason to bring up those questions again and again."

Dokic - a quarter-finalist in 2002 - will now face Russian fourth seed Elena
Dementieva for a place in the last 32.

"No-one can say I'm the favourite," Dokic added. "On paper, she should probably
win easily. There's absolutely no pressure in that match, and I can just go out
and try and do my best."

Dokic - a former world number-four but now ranked at #80 - won more than three
million US dollars in prize-money in the first stage of her career, when she was
a teenage prodigy who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2000.

But she lost the money when she split from Damir, whom she blames for her
downfall, and was reportedly sleeping on the floor of a Melbourne-apartment as
she prepared for this year's Australian Open [sic - it was in 2007 that Jelena
was sleeping on the floor of a St. Kilda flat].
<<<

------------ --------
3. Second-round draw
------------ --------

The players on the left are the ones I want to win.

3.1 Top half: Lucie Ĺ afĂĄrovĂĄ, Maria Sharapova
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------

* DINARA SAFINA [1] won
* ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA [27] won
* Aravane RezaĂŻ won
* Michelle Larcher de Brito [Q] won

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [9] won
* CARLA SUÁREZ NAVARRO [22] won
* IVETA BENEŠOVÁ [32] won
* ANA IVANOVIC [8,DF] won

* Lucie Ĺ afĂĄrovĂĄ [EF] v VENUS WILLIAMS [3], 7-6 (7/5) *0-0
* ÁGNES SZÁVAY [29] won
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [20] won
* Gisela Dulko [DF] won

* Maria Sharapova [EF] won
* Yaroslava Shvedova [Q] won
* LI,NA [25] won
* Olga Govortsova won

3.2 Bottom half: Jelena Dokic
------------ --------- --------

* MagdalĂŠna RybĂĄrikovĂĄ [DF] v JELENA JANKOVIC [5] (podme Magda!)
* Jarmila Groth v Mariana Duque Marino [LL]
* ALIZÉ CORNET [21] v Sorana Cîrstea (allez Alizé!)
* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [10] v Jill Craybas (kom sĂĽ Caroline!)

* MARION BARTOLI [13,DF,S] v Tathiana Garbin (allez Marion!)
* ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [18] v Virginie Razzano
* Yanina Wickmayer v SAMANTHA STOSUR [30] (komaan Yanina!)
* Jelena Dokic [EF] v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] (go Jelena!)

* SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [7] v Galina Voskoboeva
* SYBILLE BAMMER [28] v Melinda Czink
* Kateryna Bondarenko v Olivia Rogowska [WC]
* AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [12] v Mariya Koryttseva

* Alexa Glatch v Lourdes DomĂ­nguez Lino
* Petra Martic [Q] v ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK [24]
* Viktoriya Kutuzova v MarĂ­a JosĂŠ MartĂ­nez SĂĄnchez (davai Viktoriya!)
* Virginia Ruano Pascual v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (ÂĄvamos Virginia!)

------------ --------- --------- --------- ----
4. Second-round preview: Dokic v Dementieva
------------ --------- --------- --------- ----

I must admit it was a pleasant surprise for me to recall that Jelena leads Elena
Dementieva 5:3 head to head!

Dementieva won their first two meetings, beating 17-year-old Jelena 6-4 6-3 at
New Haven 2000, and 2-6 6-4 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Sydney Olympics.

But Jelena won their next five meetings, starting with a 4-6 7-5 6-4 revenge at
New Haven 2001. Jelena then beat Dementieva 6-3 6-3 in the final of Moscow 2001
- the third of the five WTA singles-titles that Jelena has won so far (a tally
that, sadly, has not increased since Birmingham 2002).

Jelena also beat Dementieva in two quarter-finals in 2002: Paris 5-7 6-1 6-2,
and Amelia Island 0-6 7-6 (7/3) 6-1. Her last victory over Dementieva came at
Charleston 2003: 4-6 6-4 7-5. Dementieva won their last meeting 5-7 6-1 6-3 at
Miami 2004.

Dementieva is a year and a half older than 26-year-old Jelena, but she has done
much better since their last meeting, finishing every year in 2003-2008 in the
top eleven, and rising to her current #4 in 2008 (she was briefly #3 about a
month ago). She has never won a Major, but she has won the next-best thing: an
Olympic Gold Medal (Beijing 2008).

Dementieva has an impressive 32:8 win/loss record for 2009 so far. While
Jelena's season-highlight is reaching an Australian Open quarter-final,
Dementieva went one better and reached the semis (albeit without beating anyone
ranked higher than #19), falling
6-3 6-4 to world #2 and eventual champion Serena Williams.

Indeed, Dementieva went into the Australian Open with two titles from 2009
already under her belt: she won Auckland without dropping a set, beating #76
Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-1 in the final, then won Sydney, beating #10 Agnieszka
Radwanska 6-2 5-7 6-4 in the quarters, Serena Williams 6-3 6-1(!) in the semis,
and #3 Dinara Safina 6-3 2-6 6-1 in the final.

Dementieva reached the final of WTA Paris on a walkover from Serena Williams,
and lost 7-6 2-6 6-4 to #24 AmĂŠlie Mauresmo. She then lost 6-3 6-3 to #6 Venus
Williams in the quarter-finals of Dubai.

Dementieva suffered her only opening-round loss of the year at Indian Wells,
losing 7-6 2-6 6-1 to #71-ranked qualifier Petra CetkovskĂĄ. She fell in the
fourth round of Miami to #12 Caroline Wozniacki.

Dementieva lost to Wozniacki again in the semis of Charleston:
6-4 5-7 7-5. She beat #13 Marion Bartoli 6-2 4-6 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of
Rome, but lost 6-4 6-2 to Svetlana Kuznetsova. She lost to Mauresmo again in the
third round of Madrid: 1-6 6-4 6-2.

Dementieva won her first round here by beating qualifier Chanelle Scheepers 6-4
6-3, albeit in an error-strewn performance by both players (Dementieva had a
W:UE ratio of 17:30 to Scheepers's 7:22).

The bottom line is that this is a very tough draw for Jelena, but
her destiny is in her own hands. We all know what to expect from Dementieva: she
doesn't have a great serve (to put it mildly, though it has improved a lot), but
she has very solid groundstrokes, and will be prepared to grind all day.

The unknown factor is whether Jelena can find the magic that thrashed Martina
Hingis 6-2 6-0 in the first round of Wimbledon 1999, and was last seen (at that
level of brilliance) in the last two sets of her win over Wozniacki at this
year's Australian Open (3-6 6-1 6-2): that mode where Jelena hits the ball so
sweetly with flairsome power and winners at will.

------------ --------- --------- -
5. Women's Doubles: First round
------------ --------- --------- -
5.1 First-round result (Wednesday 27th May 2009)
------------ --------- -

+ Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova
d. Petra CetkovskĂĄ/Carla SuĂĄrez Navarro, 6-3 6-2

5.2 Second-round draw
------------ ---------

* Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova v (CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER)[1]

------------ --------- --------
6. Order of play for Thursday
------------ --------- --------

Court 1 (start 11:00 CEST = 09:00 GMT = 10:00 BST)
MS 2r: JĂŠrĂŠmy Chardy v Simone Bolelli
MS 2r: NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO [10] v Diego Junqueira, 4-6 6-3 6-0 *2-2 to finish
WS 2r: ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [18] v Virginie Razzano
MS 2r: PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU [32] v Pablo AndĂşjar
WS 2r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4]

Full order of play:
http://www.rolandga rros.com/ en_FR/scores/ schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl. com/andrewbroad- dokic

















       __________________________________________________________________
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=============
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Major)
============= http://www.rolandgarros.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Šprem
3. Second-round draw
4. Second-round preview: Dokic v Dementieva
5. Women's Doubles: First round
6. Order of play for Thursday

My French Open 2009 master-thread:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=379808

---------
1. Photos
---------

Galleries of many players:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/gallery?cap=1&pg=1 (latest 200 only)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8065901.stm
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/tennis/photos.html
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/photos/

Where to search for specific players:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/photos/players.html
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/bios/indexw.html
http://news.yahoo.com/
http://www.fotosports.com/
Getty Images

-----------------------------------------------
2. First-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Šprem
(Tuesday 26th May 2009)
-----------------------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Karolina Šprem [DF], 3-6 6-1 6-2

Jelena made a bad start to her first French Open match since 2004, going *0-3
down. She broke back for *3-4, but Karolina reinstated her break immediately,
then served out the first set 6-3.

Jelena faced a break-point in the first game of the second set, but after saving
it, she took complete control, racing to a 5-0* lead and taking the second set
6-1.

In the third set, Karolina dropped serve from *1-1 (40/0), and another five-game
winning-streak put Jelena 5-1* up. Karolina held for 2-5* after being taken to
deuce, but couldn't stop Jelena serving out to 15 to reach the second round of
the French Open for the first time since 2003.

Jelena had a negative W:UE ratio of 19:28 (including a disastrous 4:13 for the
first set), while Karolina was seemingly the less aggressive, as hers was 13:16.
Jelena also served 6 aces and 9 double faults.


First set
---------
DOKIC ___* *@__ 3
ŠPREM *@* *__@* 6

The match was second on Court 6, and started at 17:27 CEST. I got a little bit
sidetracked watching the amazing Klára Zakopalová v Serena Williams match on BBC
Red Button, and missed the first two games on the scoreboard.

Karolina serving 2-0: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Jelena serving 0-3: 30/0. 40/30. Held.
Karolina serving 3-1: 40/0. 40/30. Held.
Jelena serving 1-4: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Karolina serving 4-2: 0/40 (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 3-4: 0/40 (BP #1). 15/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Karolina serving 5-3: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15 (SP #1). 40/30 (SP #2). Karolina won
the first set 6-3 at 17:56 (29m).


Second set
----------
DOKIC *@*@* * 6
ŠPREM _____*_ 1

Jelena serving 0-0: 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP). Deuce.
Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 0-1: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/30. Deuce.
Ad Jelena (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 2-0: 40/0. Held.
Karolina serving 0-3: 0/40 (BP #1). 15/40 (BP #2). Broken.
Jelena serving 4-0: Held to love.
Karolina serving 0-5: 40/0. Deuce. Ad Karolina. Held.
Jelena serving 5-1: 15/0. 40/15 (SP). Jelena won the second set 6-1 at 18:24
(second set 28m, match so far 57m).


Third set
---------
DOKIC _*@*@* * 6
ŠPREM *_____*_ 2

Karolina serving 0-0: 30/0. 30/15. Held.
Jelena serving 0-1: 30/0. Held.
Karolina serving 1-1: 40/0. Deuce. Ad Jelena (BP). Broken.
Jelena serving 2-1: 15/15. 30/30. Deuce. Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 1-3: 0/15. 30/40 (BP). Broken.

Serena Williams finally beat Klára Zakopalová on her ninth match-point after
failing to serve out the match in both the second and third sets, so at last I
can give this match my proper attention!

Not much to say, really, as Jelena seems to be in complete control after
dropping the first set.

Jelena serving 4-1: 30/0. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce #1. Ad Jelena.
Deuce #2. Ad Jelena. Held.
Karolina serving 1-5: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Deuce.
Ad Karolina. Held.

A scrappy couple of games, but surely too little too late for Karolina.

Jelena serving 5-2: 40/0 (MP #1). 40/15 (MP #2).
Jelena won 3-6 6-1 6-2 at 18:57 (third set 33m, match 1h30m).


Articles
--------

Serena struggles, Đokovic eases through in Paris tennis (AFP)
>>>
There was an emotional return to Roland Garros - after a five-year absence - for
Australia's Jelena Dokic.

The 26-year-old, whose career and life were in a tailspin until a magical run to
the Australian Open quarter-finals this year, beat Croatia's Karolina Šprem 3-6
6-1 6-2.

It was her first victory at Roland Garros since she reached the second round in
2003. She played and lost the first round in the following year.

"This is only my sixth tournament since the Australian Open, and I feel good.
It's a good sign that I was able to turn it around after losing the first set,"
said world number 80 Dokic.

"It's been five years since I played here, and only my second Grand Slam [sic]
in four years. It all feels kind of new."

Dokic - a quarter-finalist in 2002 - will now face Russian fourth seed Elena
Dementieva for a place in the last 32.
<<<

Jelena Dokic and Sam Stosur move into second round of French Open in Paris (Fox
Sports / AAP)
>>>
Australian duo Samantha Stosur and Jelena Dokic have cruised through to the
second round of the French Open on a day with few surprises among the women.

Dokic - a former world No.4 - came from behind to win her first-round match
against 24-year-old Croatian Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

It was Dokic's first appearance at the tournament since 2004, when she was
bundled out in the opening round.

The 26-year-old didn't have the best start, misfiring shots during some
determined battles with the No.91-ranked Šprem.

But the world No.80 bounced back, breaking Šprem early on in the second set and
again in the third, celebrating with a shout of "come on" to the crowd before
she wrapped up the match in 90 minutes.

Dokic has been trying to make a comeback after battling depression for several
years.

She made the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January, and sliced nearly
100 places off her ranking to reach No.80 this week.

But her performance has been patchy since Melbourne, having withdrawn from Ponte
Vedra Beach and Charlestown in April citing fatigue, and then losing the first
round of the Warsaw Open to qualifier Ioana Raluca Olaru.

"It's the second Grand Slam [sic] of the year that I've gotten past the first
round, so I have to be happy with that," Dokic told reporters.

"It was not going to be an easy match [against Šprem].

"She's played pretty well this year, and maybe she was even a favourite coming
into this match, because I haven't had so many matches in the last few months,
and I didn't play so well the last two weeks, three weeks.

"But I was really, really strong mentally today, and I'm happy with the way I
came back."

Dokic faces a tough challenge in her second-round match against world No.4 Elena
Dementieva from Russia, who beat South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-4 6-3.
<<<

The Ticker (Kamakshi Tandon, TENNIS.com)
http://tennis.com/news/ticker.aspx
>>>
Jelena Dokic defeats Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2 to set up a match with Elena
Dementieva in the next round. "There's absolutely no pressure in that match, and
I can just go out and try and do my best," said Dokic.

She said she had been surprised by the spectator-interest in her first-round
match, which featured two fallen prodigies who also have a coaching-link.
Dokic's coach Borna Bikic was once the coach and boyfriend of Šprem. Dokic's
long-time boyfriend Tin Bikic is Borna's brother. "I actually honestly didn't
think that many people would watch, and there's a lot of, you know, other, you
know, great players playing," said Dokic.

Dokic refused to comment about recent events involving her estranged father,
Damir, saying, "I'm not answering any questions regarding my father, regarding
my personal life, at all."

Earlier this month in an interview with _Sport & Style_, Jelena confirmed that
her father had beaten her during her early teens, while he was serving as her
coach on the Tour. Damir Dokic has been charged with threatening the Australian
ambassador in Belgrade while calling to demand an investigation into the
interview.
<<<

Dokic thanks Australians for rekindling her passion (Reuters)
By Pritha Sarkar (editing by Sonia Oxley)
>>>
Jelena Dokic, playing at the French Open for the first time since 2004, thanked
her adopted country Australia on Tuesday for rekindling her passion for tennis.

Dokic, who was born in former Yugoslavia, marked her return to Roland Garros by
downing Croat Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

After booking a second-round date with Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva, she
said she could not have made it back on to the big stage if it had not been for
the support she got during her emotional journey to January's Australian Open
quarter-finals.

"Those people in Australia have probably brought my career back on track. I will
be grateful to them for the rest of my life," the former world number-four - now
ranked 80th - told a news-conference.

"No matter how hard it is on Tour sometimes, every week when you play, I always
try to remember that, because that's what brought me back."

Since her unexpected run in Melbourne, her form has dipped, and she has not
managed to win back-to-back matches on the main Tour. However, since she has had
to overcome greater obstacles, including breaking links with her domineering
father Damir, she was not about to get too disheartened.

"Coming into the Grand Slam [sic], I was a little bit shaky, but it's a very
good sign that I was able to turn around and still be able to play a fairly good
match today," she said.

"I'm number 80 in the world, so I have nothing to defend for the rest of the
year. I have pretty high goals.

"Even though I haven't played as well as I wanted to since the Australian Open,
I've still had good wins - and I've only played four events. Considering all
that, I think I'm on the right track."
<<<

Dad's off limits as Dokic wins on French Open return (AFP)
>>>
Australia's Jelena Dokic continued her professional and personal rehabilitation
on Tuesday when she clinched her first win at the French Open for six years, but
insisted her controversial father was off limits.

The 26-year-old, whose career and life were in a tailspin until a magical run to
the Australian Open quarter-finals this year, battled back from a set down to
defeat Croatia's Karolina Šprem 3-6 6-1 6-2.

It was her first victory at Roland Garros since she reached the second round in
2003. She played and lost the first round in the following year.

Tuesday's win was even more remarkable, given the latest turmoil involving her
estranged father Damir, who has been charged with threatening the Australian
ambassador to Serbia, and illegal possession of firearms.

"I'm not answering any questions regarding my father or regarding my personal
life, at all," she said.

"I've answered a lot of questions in Australia. I've answered a lot of questions
over the last four or five years. I think everybody knows the story.

"I really don't think there's anything further that I should talk about. There
is no reason to bring up those questions again and again."

Dokic - a quarter-finalist in 2002 - will now face Russian fourth seed Elena
Dementieva for a place in the last 32.

"No-one can say I'm the favourite," Dokic added. "On paper, she should probably
win easily. There's absolutely no pressure in that match, and I can just go out
and try and do my best."

Dokic - a former world number-four but now ranked at #80 - won more than three
million US dollars in prize-money in the first stage of her career, when she was
a teenage prodigy who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2000.

But she lost the money when she split from Damir, whom she blames for her
downfall, and was reportedly sleeping on the floor of a Melbourne-apartment as
she prepared for this year's Australian Open [sic - it was in 2007 that Jelena
was sleeping on the floor of a St. Kilda flat].
<<<

--------------------
3. Second-round draw
--------------------

The players on the left are the ones I want to win.


3.1 Top half: Lucie Šafárová, Maria Sharapova
---------------------------------------------

* DINARA SAFINA [1] won
* ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA [27] won
* Aravane Rezaď won
* Michelle Larcher de Brito [Q] won

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [9] won
* CARLA SUÁREZ NAVARRO [22] won
* IVETA BENEŠOVÁ [32] won
* ANA IVANOVIC [8,DF] won

* Lucie Šafárová [EF] v VENUS WILLIAMS [3], 7-6 (7/5) *0-0
* ÁGNES SZÁVAY [29] won
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [20] won
* Gisela Dulko [DF] won

* Maria Sharapova [EF] won
* Yaroslava Shvedova [Q] won
* LI,NA [25] won
* Olga Govortsova won


3.2 Bottom half: Jelena Dokic
-----------------------------

* Magdaléna Rybáriková [DF] v JELENA JANKOVIC [5] (podme Magda!)
* Jarmila Groth v Mariana Duque Marino [LL]
* ALIZÉ CORNET [21] v Sorana Cîrstea (allez Alizé!)
* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [10] v Jill Craybas (kom sĺ Caroline!)

* MARION BARTOLI [13,DF,S] v Tathiana Garbin (allez Marion!)
* ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [18] v Virginie Razzano
* Yanina Wickmayer v SAMANTHA STOSUR [30] (komaan Yanina!)
* Jelena Dokic [EF] v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] (go Jelena!)

* SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [7] v Galina Voskoboeva
* SYBILLE BAMMER [28] v Melinda Czink
* Kateryna Bondarenko v Olivia Rogowska [WC]
* AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [12] v Mariya Koryttseva

* Alexa Glatch v Lourdes Domínguez Lino
* Petra Martic [Q] v ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK [24]
* Viktoriya Kutuzova v María José Martínez Sánchez (davai Viktoriya!)
* Virginia Ruano Pascual v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (Ąvamos Virginia!)

-------------------------------------------
4. Second-round preview: Dokic v Dementieva
-------------------------------------------

I must admit it was a pleasant surprise for me to recall that Jelena leads Elena
Dementieva 5:3 head to head!

Dementieva won their first two meetings, beating 17-year-old Jelena 6-4 6-3 at
New Haven 2000, and 2-6 6-4 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Sydney Olympics.

But Jelena won their next five meetings, starting with a 4-6 7-5 6-4 revenge at
New Haven 2001. Jelena then beat Dementieva 6-3 6-3 in the final of Moscow 2001
- the third of the five WTA singles-titles that Jelena has won so far (a tally
that, sadly, has not increased since Birmingham 2002).

Jelena also beat Dementieva in two quarter-finals in 2002: Paris 5-7 6-1 6-2,
and Amelia Island 0-6 7-6 (7/3) 6-1. Her last victory over Dementieva came at
Charleston 2003: 4-6 6-4 7-5. Dementieva won their last meeting 5-7 6-1 6-3 at
Miami 2004.

Dementieva is a year and a half older than 26-year-old Jelena, but she has done
much better since their last meeting, finishing every year in 2003-2008 in the
top eleven, and rising to her current #4 in 2008 (she was briefly #3 about a
month ago). She has never won a Major, but she has won the next-best thing: an
Olympic Gold Medal (Beijing 2008).

Dementieva has an impressive 32:8 win/loss record for 2009 so far. While
Jelena's season-highlight is reaching an Australian Open quarter-final,
Dementieva went one better and reached the semis (albeit without beating anyone
ranked higher than #19), falling
6-3 6-4 to world #2 and eventual champion Serena Williams.

Indeed, Dementieva went into the Australian Open with two titles from 2009
already under her belt: she won Auckland without dropping a set, beating #76
Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-1 in the final, then won Sydney, beating #10 Agnieszka
Radwanska 6-2 5-7 6-4 in the quarters, Serena Williams 6-3 6-1(!) in the semis,
and #3 Dinara Safina 6-3 2-6 6-1 in the final.

Dementieva reached the final of WTA Paris on a walkover from Serena Williams,
and lost 7-6 2-6 6-4 to #24 Amélie Mauresmo. She then lost 6-3 6-3 to #6 Venus
Williams in the quarter-finals of Dubai.

Dementieva suffered her only opening-round loss of the year at Indian Wells,
losing 7-6 2-6 6-1 to #71-ranked qualifier Petra Cetkovská. She fell in the
fourth round of Miami to #12 Caroline Wozniacki.

Dementieva lost to Wozniacki again in the semis of Charleston:
6-4 5-7 7-5. She beat #13 Marion Bartoli 6-2 4-6 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of
Rome, but lost 6-4 6-2 to Svetlana Kuznetsova. She lost to Mauresmo again in the
third round of Madrid: 1-6 6-4 6-2.

Dementieva won her first round here by beating qualifier Chanelle Scheepers 6-4
6-3, albeit in an error-strewn performance by both players (Dementieva had a
W:UE ratio of 17:30 to Scheepers's 7:22).

The bottom line is that this is a very tough draw for Jelena, but
her destiny is in her own hands. We all know what to expect from Dementieva: she
doesn't have a great serve (to put it mildly, though it has improved a lot), but
she has very solid groundstrokes, and will be prepared to grind all day.

The unknown factor is whether Jelena can find the magic that thrashed Martina
Hingis 6-2 6-0 in the first round of Wimbledon 1999, and was last seen (at that
level of brilliance) in the last two sets of her win over Wozniacki at this
year's Australian Open (3-6 6-1 6-2): that mode where Jelena hits the ball so
sweetly with flairsome power and winners at will.

-------------------------------
5. Women's Doubles: First round
-------------------------------
5.1 First-round result (Wednesday 27th May 2009)
----------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova
d. Petra Cetkovská/Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-3 6-2


5.2 Second-round draw
---------------------

* Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova v (CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER)[1]

-----------------------------
6. Order of play for Thursday
-----------------------------

Court 1 (start 11:00 CEST = 09:00 GMT = 10:00 BST)
MS 2r: Jérémy Chardy v Simone Bolelli
MS 2r: NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO [10] v Diego Junqueira, 4-6 6-3 6-0 *2-2 to finish
WS 2r: ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [18] v Virginie Razzano
MS 2r: PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU [32] v Pablo Andújar
WS 2r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4]

Full order of play:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

=============
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Major)
============= http://www.rolandgarros.com/
Contents
--------

1. UK TV-alert
2. First-round draw
3. Jelena Dokic preview
4. Women's Doubles: First-round draw
5. Order of play for Tuesday

My French Open 2009 master-thread:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=379808

--------------
1. UK TV-alert
--------------

The French Open will be televised on BBC Red Button from 10:00 BST each day of
the tournament (digital viewers press Red or select the appropriate
Freeview-channel - 301 or 302).

Sunday 24th May to Friday 5th June, 10:00-19:00, BBC Red Button
Women's final: Saturday 6th June, 14:00-16:30, BBC 2
Men's final: Sunday 7th June: 14:00-18:00, BBC 2

-------------------
2. First-round draw (Sunday and Monday's losers removed)
-------------------

The players on the left are the ones I want to win.


2.1 Top quarter
---------------

* DINARA SAFINA [1] won
* Vitalia Diatchenko [Q,S] won
* Julie Coin won
* ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA [27] won

* Polona Hercog [Q] won
* Aravane Rezaď won
* Michelle Larcher de Brito [Q] won
* ZHENG,JIE [15] won

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [9] won
* Kristina Barrois won
* Lucie Hradecká [S] won
* CARLA SUÁREZ NAVARRO [22] won

* IVETA BENEŠOVÁ [32] won
* Alla Kudryavtseva won
* Tamarine Tanasugarn won
* ANA IVANOVIC [8,DF] won


2.2 Second quarter: Lucie Šafárová, Maria Sharapova
---------------------------------------------------

* VENUS WILLIAMS [3] won
* Lucie Šafárová [EF] won
* Elena Vesnina won
* ÁGNES SZÁVAY [29] won

* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [20] won
* Kirsten Flipkens won
* Gisela Dulko [DF] won
* Anna-Lena Grönefeld won

* NADIA PETROVA [11] won
* Maria Sharapova [EF] won
* Arantxa Rus [Q] won
* Yaroslava Shvedova [Q] won

* LI,NA [25] won
* Timea Bacsinszky won
* Akgul Amanmuradova won
* Olga Govortsova won


2.3 Third quarter: Daniela Hantuchová, Jelena Dokic
---------------------------------------------------

* Petra Cetkovská v JELENA JANKOVIC [5] (pojdme Petra!)
* Magdaléna Rybáriková [DF] v Kristina Mladenovic [WC] (podme Magda!)
* Jarmila Groth won
* Mariana Duque Marino [LL] won

* ALIZÉ CORNET [21] v Maret Ani (allez Alizé!)
* Sorana Cîrstea v Carly Gullickson [Q] (hai Sorana!)
* Jill Craybas won
* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [10] v Vera Dushevina, 4-6 7-5 *0-0

* MARION BARTOLI [13,DF,S] won
* Tathiana Garbin won
* Daniela Hantuchová [EF] v Virginie Razzano (PODME DANIELA!!)
* Ekaterina Makarova v ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [18]

* SAMANTHA STOSUR [30] v Francesca Schiavone
* Urszula Radwanska v Yanina Wickmayer (my loyalty is to Urszula)
* Jelena Dokic [EF] v Karolina Šprem [DF] (my loyalty is to JELENA)
* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] v Chanelle Scheepers [Q]


2.4 Bottom quarter: Nicole Vaidišová
------------------------------------

* SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [7] v Claire Feuerstein [WC]
* Sania Mirza [DF] v Galina Voskoboeva (go Sania!)
* Anastasija Sevastova [Q] v Melinda Czink
* Nathalie Dechy v SYBILLE BAMMER [28]

* Kateryna Bondarenko won
* Olivia Rogowska [WC] won
* Mariya Koryttseva won
* AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [12] won

* Alexa Glatch won
* Lourdes Domínguez Lino won
* Mara Santangelo v Petra Martic [Q]
* Monica Niculescu [S] v ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK [24] (hai Monica!)

* PENG,SHUAI [31,S] v María José Martínez Sánchez (jia you Shuai!)
* Viktoriya Kutuzova v Zuzana Ondrášková [Q] (my loyalty is to Viktoriya)
* Nicole Vaidišová [EF] v Virginia Ruano Pascual (my loyalty is to NICOLE)
* Klára Zakopalová v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (pojdme Klára!)

-----------------------
3. Jelena Dokic preview
-----------------------

Jelena made an amazing comeback to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian
Open ranked #187 - beating world #80 Tamira Paszek
6-2 3-6 6-4, #18 Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 6-3, #12 Caroline Wozniacki 3-6 6-1
6-2, and #31 Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 5-7 8-6 before losing
6-4 4-6 6-4 to #3 Dinara Safina.

But Jelena warned us at the time that it would be difficult to keep up that
form, and so it has proved. She won two matches to qualify for Memphis, but
Wozniacki took a 6-1 6-2 revenge. She lost 6-4 6-2 to #102 Jill Craybas at
Indian Wells, and blamed tiredness due to a bad schedule of tournaments.

After beating #68 Edina Gallovits at Miami, Jelena lost to Wozniacki again -
this time 6-3 5-7 6-2 - then pulled out of Ponte Vedra Beach with sports-fatigue
syndrome.

Jelena contributed a win over Stefanie Vögele to Australia's Fed Cup victory
over Switzerland in the World Group II play-offs, then reached the semi-finals
of ITF Bucharest, but lost 6-1 3-6 6-1 to #141 Andrea Petkovic.

It was at this time that Jelena had to deal with yet more controversy from her
father Damir, who threatened to blow up the car of the Australian ambassador in
Serbia over articles in the Australian media confirming what I suspected ten
years ago: that he physically abused Jelena. The police raided his house,
finding guns and bombs, arrested him, and he now faces eight years in prison if
the charges stick.

Personally, I'm very glad to see Damir finally getting what he deserves for the
way he treated Jelena (albeit for different crimes), but apparently she is
"distressed and saddened" about his arrest, which is understandable as, after
all, he is still her father.

This week, Jelena lost 6-4 6-3 to #106 Ioana Raluca Olaru in the first round of
Warsaw, describing it as "probably my worst match in the last two years."

Jelena opens against Karolina Šprem, but I guess the second round is her limit,
as she would likely face #4-ranked Olympic champion Elena Dementieva.


3.1 First-round preview: Dokic v Šprem
--------------------------------------

Jelena starts with 24-year-old Karolina Šprem: a player who, like herself, is
making her way back after falling off the face of the Earth in recent years, and
has had dealings with the Bikic-brothers (Jelena is coached by Borna while Tino
is her boyfriend; for Karolina, I believe it was the other way round).

Karolina scored a sensational 7-6 7-6 victory over Venus Williams in the second
round of Wimbledon 2004, going on to reach the quarter-finals with her
go-for-broke hitting. She also put up an impressive losing performance against
Venus in the third round of the French Open 2006.

Karolina had terrible injury-problems in 2007, missing the French Open with a
wrist-injury; in fact she didn't play for ten months after right-elbow surgery
in May 2007.

When she did come back, she came back with a bang, beating world #10 Daniela
Hantuchová in her comeback-tournament - Amelia Island 2008 - before losing to
Lindsay Davenport. But her other 2008 results are nothing to write home about -
apart from a Tier III semi-final at Budapest.

When I looked at Karolina's 2009 results, I must admit I was shocked to see that
her win/loss record is 25:6! She picked up five qualifying-wins in Australia,
then reached the second round of Paris as a qualifier - only to be thrashed 6-1
6-2 by world #1 Serena Williams.

Karolina then won ITF Biberach, beating #96 Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-2 in the
final. She reached the second round of Miami as a qualifier, then won ITF
Tourhout, beating #128 Viktoriya Kutuzova 6-1 6-4 in the final.

More recently, Karolina won three matches to qualify for Stuttgart, losing 6-3
2-6 6-1 to #13 Marion Bartoli in the first round. She then lost 7-5 6-4 to #544
Stefania Chieppa in the first qualifying-round of Rome.

Karolina is now ranked #91 after dropping out of the top 200 in 2007, and
finishing 2008 at #175. So her comeback seems to be mirroring Jelena's - albeit
without a sensational run to a Major quarter-final this year!

Jelena and Karolina have met only once before: in the second round of Strasbourg
2003, where Karolina beat Jelena 7-5 1-6 6-3 in what was her original
breakthrough-tournament: she won seven matches to reach the final as a
qualifier!

It's quite a tough one to call, as both girls are on the comeback-trail and have
had some encouraging results, and both are coming off exceptionally
disappointing losses in their last matches. I'm sitting on the fence...

------------------------------------
4. Women's Doubles: First-round draw
------------------------------------

* Jelena Dokic [EF]/Alisa Kleybanova
v Petra Cetkovská/Carla Suárez Navarro

----------------------------
5. Order of play for Tuesday
----------------------------

Court 6 (start 11:00 CEST = 09:00 GMT = 10:00 BST)
WS 1r: Sania Mirza [DF] v Galina Voskoboeva
MS 1r: TOMMY ROBREDO [16] v Adrian Mannarino [WC]
WS 1r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v Karolina Šprem [DF]
MS 1r: Andrei Pavel v Tommy Haas

Full order of play:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

Hi Team,

Below is the URL for Tennis information.
http://tennis-tuftech.blogspot.com/

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Quarter-final
2. More reports to come!
3. Article: Dokic to take a break

----------------
1. Quarter-final (Tuesday 27th January 2009)
----------------

- Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] lt. DINARA SAFINA [3], 4-6 6-4 4-6

I saw this match on the BBC Red Button, and have just uploaded my full TV-report
- including a point-by-point description, and transcriptions of selected
commentary - to my website:
http://tinyurl.com/dokic-australianopen2009

------------------------
2. More reports to come!
------------------------

This completes Phase 2 of my Australian Open 2009 reports - the full BBC
TV-reports for my Eternal Fanship.

Phase 3 is to order other matches involving my Eternal Fanship from Tennis
Videos International <http://www.users.bigpond.com/tennisvideos1/> when the 2009
tennis-season is over, and to write up full TV-reports over the
Christmas-holidays. This includes two of Jelena's matches:
* 1r: Jelena Dokic v Tamira Paszek (ETA 25th December 2009)
* 2r: Jelena Dokic v Anna Chakvetadze (ETA 27th December 2009)

The above dates are pessimistic estimates, and are subject to change in either
direction. I was bound by my vows of Eternal Fanship to complete Phase 2, but
Phase 3 is an optional extra, as I have not actually vowed to order any matches
from Tennis Videos International, nor vowed to write them up if I do.

I did consider ordering the Phase 3 matches immediately after the Australian
Open, but due to the large number of matches versus the limited time I'll have
to write them up, and me having a significant backlog coming out of the
Australian Open, that plan is scratched... probably (my Passion says "order them
now", but my Reason says "wait until the off-season").

---------------------------------
3. Article: Dokic to take a break
---------------------------------

Dokic to take a break
(Bob Larson, Tennis Australia, Monday 16th March 2009)
>>>
Jelena Dokic wants nothing more than the chance to recharge her physical and
mental batteries after mis-handling her schedule following January's surprise
Australian Open quarter-final.

The Australian lost in her first match at the Indian Wells Masters, and admitted
that she is yearning for some precious down-time.

The No.80 was playing only her second WTA match since the Open, and said she may
have got her scheduling wrong.

"I haven't been home [to Monte Carlo] since September," said the 25-year-old.
"I'm exhausted, and don't know what to do on the court right now.

"I've had no rest for six months, and I'm tired mentally."

Dokic made a fairytale return in Melbourne - after qualifying into the Open by
winning a play-off in December.

She was then picked for the winning Optus Australian Fed Cup team the week
afterwards, and then had to make her way to Memphis to play qualifying.

"I've played only one event for my ranking since Melbourne," she complained. "I
got the scheduling really wrong, and now I'm paying for it."
<<<

Jelena, feel free to skip Miami if you need to, but please peak for the French
Open and especially Wimbledon!

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Fourth round (Sunday 25th January 2009)
------------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29], 7-5 5-7 8-6

I saw this match on the BBC Red Button, and have just uploaded my full TV-report
- including a point-by-point description, and transcriptions of the on-court
interviews, and of selected commentary - to my website:
http://tinyurl.com/dokic-australianopen2009

Sam Smith: "Jelena Dokic feeds on winners: if you get one, you get another one."

--
Dr. Andrew Broad

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Third round (Friday 23rd January 2009)
-----------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11], 3-6 6-1 6-2

I saw this match on the BBC Red Button, and have just uploaded my full
TV-report - including a point-by-point description, and transcriptions
of the on-court interviews, and of selected commentary - to my website:
http://tinyurl.com/dokic-australianopen2009

--
Dr. Andrew Broad

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. Quarter-final TV-report: Dokic v Safina
3. More reports to come!

---------
1. Photos
---------

Jelena Dokic (7 quarter-final photos added):
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/related/wta040344.html
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=dokic
http://www.aapimage.com.au/search.aspx?Search=dokic

Search Getty Images for "dokic"
Search http://www.fotosports.com/ for "dokic"

Jelena Dokic gallery (lots of old photos as well as AO 2009):
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ah7kb3

Jelena Dokic and Anna Chakvetadze:
http://www.tennisgrandstand.com/archives/2763

Various players including Jelena:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/?Event=melbourne_qf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852626.stm
http://preview.tinyurl.com/bpub29

Loads of photos of many players, including Jelena:
http://www.tennis.com/photogallery/photogallery.aspx

------------------------------------------
2. Quarter-final TV-report: Dokic v Safina (Tuesday 27th January 2009)
------------------------------------------

Beauty and the beast:
- Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] lt. DINARA SAFINA [3], 4-6 6-4 4-6

It went much better than I feared after Jelena had staggered into the
last eight with an injured left ankle (of which there was no sign in
this match, although her right Achilles' tendon was still bandaged)
and an empty tank.

I must admit that Safina's form was awful - especially in the second
set - and she won only because Jelena was exhausted after four
emotional three-set victories. That said, they both played much
better in the third set, as Jelena seemed to find extra energy with
the end in sight - it's amazing that she could look so exhausted in
the first two sets but not in the third!

On the evening of an extremely hot day, Safina was sweating buckets,
while Jelena glistened sexily.


Jelena went *0-2 down at the start, which I think was more about not
being warmed up (she didn't practise on Monday) than exhaustion.
But she settled nicely to hold serve twice, then broke back for *3-3!
She saved two break-points before holding for 4-3*.

Safina was getting tight and sloppy by this stage, allowing Jelena to
control the play from the centre of the baseline, rather than
spreading her to test her energy and footwork.

Jelena lost the last three games of the first set with sloppy tennis
as her energy dipped and Safina began to use the width of the court
better to exploit that. By the end of the set, Jelena looked
exhausted, mishitting shot after shot (especially on her backhand).


In the second set, however, Jelena came through a tough opening
service-game, then made Safina pay for an awful service-game, to
break for *2-0. A game of six deuces followed, in which Jelena saved
four break-points before holding for 3-0*. She still looked
exhausted, but Safina was playing so terribly that Vera Zvonarëva
must have been licking her lips!

Safina held to love, then broke back for 3-2*. Jelena looked
exhausted even when she broke for *4-2, but then played a brilliant
game to recover from 15/30 and hold for 5-2*!

Safina held to love, then broke back for *4-5 - playing much better
in those two games - but handed the second set to Jelena with a chain-
reaction of double faults: four in that game, including a quadruple
fault for the last two points.


Jelena put up an honourable performance in her fifth third set of the
tournament, after it started badly for her with a break in the first
game and a wasted break-point in a game of four deuces as Safina held
for 2-0*.

Jelena played a nice game to hold for 1-2*, and hit a brilliant
forehand winner down the line as she held for 2-3*. Another break-
point went begging: Jelena looked very disappointed as Safina held
for 4-2*, but held for 3-4* with an ace that she had to challenge to
show that it was in.

Jelena hit a flairsome crosscourt backhand winner to break back for
*4-4, prompting me to entertain - for the first time /realistically/ -
  thoughts of a mouthwatering Jelena v Vera semi-final on the Rod
Laver Arena evening-session = televised on BBC on Thursday!

Sadly it was not to be, as Jelena was broken for 4-5* after three
deuces - blasting a wild forehand very long, and looking close to
tears at the changeover.

Jelena had two break-points to save the match as Safina served for it
at *5-4 (15/40), but Safina saved them like a champion: one with a
pinpoint forehand down the line, the other with an ace. Then Safina
had match-point, and after three failed attempts to get the ball into
play (caught toss + let + fault), Jelena netted a forehand to end her
Melbourne-fairytale.


For an hour or two after the match, I felt as disappointed as I do
whenever Maria Sharapova loses at Wimbledon. If Jelena had lost
6-4 6-4, I just would have been delighted with her tournament-
performance, but what really hurts is that I could sense victory -
and the irresistable prize of a BBC-televised Jelena v Vera semi-
final - at *4-4 in the third, when Jelena had the momentum after
fighting back from *2-4.

I feel sure that had Jelena reached the semi-finals, the order-of-
play committee would have put Jelena v Vera on the Rod Laver Arena
evening-session, and that would have been the most mouthwatering
Major semi-final of all time! :sad:

But the bottom line is that Jelena is finally back for real, after so
many false dawns of a comeback in the last four years. It's amazing
how she has gone from being a brilliant 19-year-old to a brilliant
25-year-old with nothing in between!

If Jelena steers clear of serious injury, I don't see why she
shouldn't play at this level - and hopefully even higher - for
another four years or so, because she hits her groundstrokes so
sweetly (with flairsome power and pinpoint precision), has beautiful
footwork, is very strong mentally now that she's back in the right
head-space, and is a more mature competitor than before: able to play
safely as well as brilliantly.

I'll post my full TV-report at a later date.


2.1 Articles
------------

Safina, Zvonarëva advance to semis at Australian Open
(PA SportsTicker)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's dream run at the Australian Open ended on Tuesday.

The Australian Dokic endured a 6-4 4-6 6-4 setback against third-
seeded Russian Dinara Safina during their quarter-final match at Rod
Laver Arena.

Dokic - a wild-card entry who was ranked 187th in the world and on
the comeback-trail after battling depression and family-issues - gave
it her all in front of a patriotic crowd.

But, after so little tennis at this level, and carrying an ankle-
injury suffered late in her fourth-round win against Alisa
Kleybanova, she eventually was ousted by Safina.

"I have really fought well this week," Dokic said. "I have no
regrets. I just would like to keep it going... It's been a great
start to 2009. I couldn't have asked for anything more."

The 22-year-old Safina next will face Vera Zvonarëva in the semi-
finals after her seventh-seeded compatriot cruised to a 6-3 6-0
victory over France's Marion Bartoli - the 16th seed - earlier on
Tuesday.

Safina admitted that the partisan crowd was a factor.

"It was not easy to play, you know, having the whole crowd against
you," said Safina, who reached her first Major final at the French
Open last spring. "Because when you have the whole crowd behind you
whenever you do a great shot, they pump you, and then it makes you go
for more and more.

"When you make a great shot and basically only my box is clapping for
me, that's tough."

Dokic's march to the quarter-finals has been the story of the
tournament, and her determination, attitude, and apologies for past
behaviour - which was largely influenced by her estranged father
Damir - have won back the hearts of her adopted nation.

In a gripping match, Dokic lost a tight first set 6-4, but bounced
back immediately in the second to break the big-hitting Russian and
take a 3-0 lead.

Safina, who recorded 11 double faults in the match, held serve to
love and broke back, only to lose her next service-game en route to a
2-5 deficit.

Although she broke again in the ninth game, it was not enough, and a
double fault handed Dokic - who hit a number of sublime winners down
the line - the second set.

It was more of the same in the third, as Dokic failed to hold serve
in the opening game, but took the Russian to four deuces in the next
before Safina finally closed it out for a 2-0 lead.

Both players' error-counts continued to mount, but the games went
with serve until the eighth, when a backhand winner by Dokic evened
the set at 4-4.

It was short-lived, though, as another lengthy game, in which Dokic
saved three break-points, finally went Safina's way, and she wrapped
up the match when Dokic found the net.

"I played well with a girl who's number three in the world today,"
Dokic said. "I can still really take positives out of today, even
though some of the points and the shots that I played at some stages
of the match were maybe not right."
<<<

Dokic-dream ends (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
"Aussie Jelena" Dokic was given every chance to again thrill home-
fans, having been scheduled on the cool night-session, but her dream-
run ended 6-4 4-6 6-4 at the hands of Dinara Safina.

BIG BROTHER

Dokic's emotionally-charged run at Melbourne Park had captured the
imagination of her adopted homeland, but her luck finally ran out
against the in-form Safina.

The third-seeded Russian advanced to her third Major semi-final in
eight months, and stayed on course to emulate big brother Marat Safin
by winning the Australian Open.

"I'm so sorry for beating [an] Australian tonight," Safina told the
crowd during a courtside interview. "I hope you will be behind me
next time."

Dokic, who is ranked 187th in the world and beat three seeded players
just to get to the quarter-finals, remained upbeat.

"Of course I'm disappointed," she said. "But there are more positives
than negatives. It's been a great start to 2009; I couldn't have
asked for anything more."

Safina next meets fellow Russian and seventh seed Vera Zvonarëva
after she eased into the women's semi-finals with victory over Marion
Bartoli.
<<<

Exhausted Đokovic out as Safina ends Dokic dream-run (AFP)
>>>
An exhausted Novak Đokovic surrendered his Australian Open title on
Tuesday when he withdrew from the quarter-finals, while Dinara Safina
ended the dream-run of Australia's Jelena Dokic.

Safina overcame dogged resistence from Dokic to win 6-4 4-6 6-4 and
end her comeback-tournament after years of depression following the
antics of her infamous father Damir.

She will now meet seventh seeded compatriot Vera Zvonarëva for a
place in the final, after the Russian coolly disposed of France's
Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0.

"I'm sorry I had to defeat your Australian," Safina told the highly
patriotic crowd afterwards. "I hope that you will be behind me next
time."

Dokic was philosophical about the defeat.

"I played three sets with the number-three player in the world, so
everything is positive," said the former world number-four.

"I've had a great tournament. It's a little bit disappointing: I had
some chances. But sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they
don't."
<<<

Zvonarëva cruises into tennis semis as Safina toughs it out (AFP)
>>>
Russian Vera Zvonarëva coolly took apart France's Marion Bartoli on
Tuesday to reach the Australian Open semi-finals, while compatriot
Dinara Safina almost imploded before overcoming wildcard Jelena Dokic.

Conditions had cooled on centre court for Safina's evening-match, but
the third seed found herself in a heated battle for a spot in the
final four, and had to call on the mental toughness she has developed
over the past year.

Safina dug deep against the tenacious Dokic, grafting out a win
despite an error-ridden display before a fiercely parochial crowd
cheering on their local heroine.

The 23-year-old eventually ended the Australian's dream run
6-4 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes.

She said that even 12 months ago, the pressure from the crowd would
have been too much, but she could now call on reserves of mental
strength as she chases a maiden Major title.

"I think [a year ago], I would not win, but now I hang in there," she
said.

"I pushed myself and I tried my best today. Before, I would just not
be able to even handle the whole crowd against me."

She admitted she was sometimes her own worst enemy after squandering
numerous chances to close down the match in the second set,
committing eight double faults, and converting only two of her 13
break-point opportunities.

"Most of the time, it's me against myself playing," Safina said.

"I play against me, my shadow, myself, everything against me. If one
day I play only against my opponent, this will be the perfect day."
<<<

Safina beats Dokic to reach semis (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852624.stm
>>>
Third seed Dinara Safina overcame home-favourite and wildcard Jelena
Dokic in three sets to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in
Melbourne.

The quarter-final was in the balance after the pair split the first
two sets and were level at 4-4 in the third.

But the Russian got the crucial break, and served out for a
6-4 4-6 6-4 win after two hours and 19 minutes.

She will now play her compatriot Vera Zvonarëva after the seventh
seed eased past France's Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0.

"I'm sorry I had to defeat your Australian," Safina told the 15,000
fans on Rod Laver Arena after her victory. "I hope that you will be
behind me next time."

Dokic - a former world number-four making her return to top-level
tennis after a two-year absence through injury and illness - was
pleased with the way her return to Major tennis had gone.

She beat three seeded players to reach the last eight, and put up a
determined battle throughout the quarter-final, despite suffering
from a sprained ankle suffered in her previous match.

"I played three sets with the number-three player in the world, so
everything is positive," she said.

"I've had a great tournament. It's a little bit disappointing. I had
some chances, but sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they
don't.

"I have really fought well this week. I have no regrets. I just would
like to keep it going."

Dokic lost a tight first, but, with the 22-year-old Russian
struggling with her serve, fought back to take the second.

Safina - whose brother Marat Safin won the men's title in 2005 - took
a 2-0 lead in the decider, but a combination of her own errors and
Dokic's sublime winners saw the Australian pull the scoreline back to
4-4.

However, Safina broke Dokic's serve with her fourth break-point, and
then managed to hold her own service-game to clinch victory after two
hours and 19 minutes.
<<<

Jelena Dokic bows out of Australian Open as Dinara Safina reaches
semi-finals (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
>>>
Dinara Safina has ended local hope Jelena Dokic's surprising run in
the Australian Open, claiming a 6-4 4-6 6-4 quarter-final victory.

At 4-4 in the final set, the third-seeded Russian broke Dokic's serve
and then held, ignoring the partisan cheers of 15,000 fans at Rod
Laver Arena.

The win sees Safina advance to a semi-final against fellow Russian
Vera Zvonarëva, who beat Marion Bartoli.

Dokic, who won a wild-card tournament to get into the main draw, and
is on a comeback after nearly two years of inactivity due to injuries
and personal problems, beat seeded players in three of her four
previous rounds.
<<<

Safina, Zvonarëva Reach Aussie Semis (The Sports Network)
>>>
Top-ten Russians Dinara Safina and Vera Zvonarëva were a pair of
quarter-final winners on Tuesday at the Australian Open 2009: the
first Major event of the year.

The third-seeded Safina held off resurgent Aussie wild card Jelena
Dokic 6-4 4-6 6-4, while a seventh-seeded Zvonarëva zipped past 16th-
seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-0. The Wimbledon 2007 runner-
up Bartoli stunned world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round
this past weekend.

The 22-year-old Safina - last year's French Open and Olympic runner-
up - will appear in her third career Major semi-final, while the 24-
year-old Zvonarëva will play in her first.

The 187th-ranked Dokic's Cinderella-run here captured the imagination
of her adopted homeland, but her luck finally ran out against the
powerful Safina.

Dokic beat three seeded players in her first four matches of the
fortnight.

"Of course I'm disappointed," Dokic said. "But there are more
positives than negatives. It's been a great start to 2009; I couldn't
have asked for anything more."

Safina and Dokic split the first two sets on Day 9, and were tied at
4-4 in the third when Safina picked up a key break of serve, and then
served out the tight match.

"I'm so sorry for beating an Australian tonight," Safina said to the
crowd during a courtside interview at Rod Laver Arena. "I hope you
will be behind me next time."

A nervous Dokic piled up 18 unforced errors on her way to dropping
the first set against Safina in 36 minutes. But the heavy crowd-
favorite jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set, which she won by
breaking the Russian's serve in the 10th game.

Safina is now 2:0 lifetime against Dokic, with the other victory
coming six years ago in Shanghai.

The 25-year-old Dokic was appearing in her first Major quarter-final
since the 2002 French Open, and playing in her first Major event
since exiting the first round of the 2006 Aussie Open. She was making
only her second Major appearance since 2004.

Dokic became the first woman in Aussie Open history to play in five
straight three-set matches.
<<<

The Fantastic Four
Posted by Aaress Lawless (www.onthebaseline.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's fairytale run came to an end at the hands of the
tournament's third seed. The pair's second meeting had Safina down as
the favourite on paper, but Dokic as the favoured player in the
hearts of the Australians.

Playing with a strapped ankle as a result of Sunday night's stumble,
it was a topsy turvy and scrappy affair on Rod Laver Arena. Safina
served poorly (11 double faults and won only 38% of second serves)
and her huge backswing caused many of the balls to fly pass the
baseline. There were signs of nerves from her grunting; however, once
the sound-effects stopped (albeit only for a few games), she started
striking the ball more cleanly.

Safina is lucky to have beaten Dokic, and will need to raise the
level of her game to even have a chance against Vera Zvonarëva.
<<<

Safina v Dokic Most-Watched Women's Match Ever
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2943
>>>
The excitement surrounding the Australian Open and Jelena Dokic's
comeback reached a fever-pitch Down Under on Tuesday, as the intense
three-set match between home-heroine Jelena Dokic and Russian No.3
seed Dinara Safina became the country's most-watched women's match at
the Australian Open since the ratings-system began in 2001.

The match peaked at 3.243 million viewers across Australia's five
major metropolitan markets, and was the country's most-viewed quarter-
final and the sixth-most watched match - between men or women - since
2001. Roughly half of all television-viewers in Australia were
watching coverage of the Australian Open.

Dokic, who sees 2009 as her final chance for a major comeback, won
her first Major match since 2003 in her first-round match against
Tamira Paszek of Austria. She went on to surpass world No.17 Anna
Chakvetadze in the second round, and then defeated 11th seed seed
Caroline Wozniacki in the third round, making 2009 the first time she
has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Though Dokic's meteoric rise through the Australian Open was ended in
the match, her attitude remains upbeat towards the upcoming year.
"I think it was a good match. I played three sets with the No.3
player in the world. Everything is positive. I've had a great
tournament," she said at the post-match press-conference. "Sometimes
things go your way, and sometimes they don't. I have to take all the
positives and negatives out of today, and really learn for the rest
of the year about what I will do differently in a match like that."

Safina had only wonderful things to say about her opponent and the
match. "She was No.4 in the world, or even higher," she
recalled. "She's a great player. Just a matter of time and she
continues working like this, working hard, and, you know, you can see
that she's a great player."

Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood praised the players and the coverage
of the event: "The Australian Open 2009 and the comeback of Jelena
Dokic truly have captured the hearts and minds of the nation, with
viewers continuing to tune in to follow the event and Jelena's
progress," he said. "We are delighted that the viewing public is
supporting its own world-class sporting-event."
<<<

Safina, Dokic enjoy breakthrough-fortnights too
htt://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2945
Saturday 31st February 2009
>>>
Despite the loss [in the final], Safina won over the crowds and
earned the respect of so many during her fortnight in Melbourne.
Perhaps her most entertaining show came in her fourth-round match,
where she rallied back from 2-5 down in the third set - saving two
match-points down 4-5, as well - to beat rising star Alizé Cornet;
she also went the distance against tournament-darling Jelena Dokic,
ending the run of the Australian sentimental favourite in three tough
sets: 6-4 4-6 6-4. She then beat countrywoman and first-time Major
singles semi-finalist Vera Zvonarëva.

Dokic's run was surely one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
Having been predominantly off the Tour for the last four years -
either out of the game completely due to personal issues, or trying
to work her way back in the minor leagues - the former world No.4
earned a spot in the main draw thanks to an Australian wild-card play-
off during the off-season, edged Tamira Paszek in the first round,
and barely looked back. She knocked off two top-twenty players - Anna
Chakvetadze and Caroline Wozniacki - then beat another seed - Alisa
Kleybanova - to reach her first Australian Open quarter-final.
She lost the aforementioned duel to Safina, but she won everyone's
respect all over again, and is surely poised to make another run
towards the upper echelon of the women's game.
<<<

------------------------
3. More reports to come!
------------------------

This completes Phase 1 of my Australian Open 2009 reports - the daily
reports while the tournament was running, and then tending to the
fallen.

Phase 2 is to finish the full BBC TV-reports for my Eternal Fanship
over the coming weekends, including three of Jelena's matches:
* 3r: Jelena Dokic v Caroline Wozniacki (ETA 22nd February 2009)
* 4r: Jelena Dokic v Alisa Kleybanova (ETA 1st March 2009)
* qf: Jelena Dokic v Dinara Safina (ETA 15th March 2009)

Phase 3 is to order other matches involving my Eternal Fanship from
Tennis Videos International
<http://www.users.bigpond.com/tennisvideos1/> when the 2009 tennis-
season is over, and to write up full TV-reports over the Christmas-
holidays. This includes two of Jelena's matches:
* 1r: Jelena Dokic v Tamira Paszek (ETA 25th December 2009)
* 2r: Jelena Dokic v Anna Chakvetadze (ETA 27th December 2009)

The above dates are pessimistic estimates, and are subject to change
in either direction. I am bound by my vows of Eternal Fanship to
complete Phase 2, but Phase 3 is an optional extra, as I have not
actually vowed to order any matches from Tennis Videos international,
nor vowed to write them up if I do.

I did consider ordering the Phase 3 matches immediately after the
Australian Open, but due to the large number of matches versus the
limited time I'll have to write them up, and me having a significant
backlog coming out of the Australian Open, that plan is scratched...
probably (my Passion says "order them now", but my Reason says "wait
until the off-season").

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

P.S. I'm pleased to see that Jelena is crushing the opposition in Fed
Cup this week!

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos / Videos
2. Fourth-round TV-report: Dokic v Kleybanova
3. Quarter-final draw
4. Quarter-final preview
5. Andrew's wishes
6. Order of play for Tuesday

------------------
1. Photos / Videos
------------------
1.1 Photos
----------

Jelena Dokic (12 fourth-round photos added):
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/related/wta040344.html

Various players including Jelena:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/
http://preview.tinyurl.com/8zkz2m (www.sonyericssonwtatour.com)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7849577.stm
http://preview.tinyurl.com/chlcag (The Daily Telegraph - UK)

I saved the second-most photos of Jelena Dokic that I've ever saved of
a player from the same match! (The most photos I've ever saved of a
player from the same match were of Maria Sharapova in the Australian
Open 2008 final.)


1.2 Videos
----------

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/multimedia/default_video.asp
- Night 7 Highlights

---------------------------------------------
2. Fourth-round TV-report: Dokic v Kleybanova
(Sunday 25th January 2009)
---------------------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29], 7-5 5-7 8-6

"Jelena, we love you so much, because you are courageous!"

Chris Dittmar greeted Jelena with these words at her on-court
interview after the match, and it was indeed an incredibly gutsy
performance from Jelena. She looked exhausted by the end of the second
set, but somehow found the will to compete in the third.

Jelena was lucky to be able to complete the match, because at 6-5* in
the third, she went over on her left ankle (luckily not the foot that
was already injured) when stretching for a return. On the slow-motion
replay, it looked almost as nasty as the horrific ankle-injury that
sidelined Tatiana Golovin for months after Miami 2006, but it didn't
seem to affect Jelena during the rallies, although she was walking
gingerly between points, and had her left ankle and calf checked by
the trainer at the next changeover. As BBC commentator Chris Bailey
said, she "must have incredibly flexible ankles and ligaments!"

The first set was a relief for Jelena to win, because it was a
strangely tentative performance - in contrast to the brilliant free
hitting of the last two sets against Caroline Wozniacki. At times,
Jelena looked in control with great depth and precision, but less
power than I'm used to seeing from her, while Kleybanova was hitting
very hard but often erratic groundstrokes.

But at other times, there was a hint of panic in Jelena's play, as
though she was putting more pressure on herself to beat Kleybanova
than she had done to beat Wozniacki. Her game-plan seemed to be that a
solid, sensible performance would beat an erratic Kleybanova, but then
panicked when that wasn't working out.

Both girls tightened up at the sharp end of the first set, Jelena
getting away with three double faults at *5-5, and two Kleybanova
unforced errors contributing to Jelena breaking to win the first set 7-5.

Jelena was broken at the start of the second set, and had to live with
that until she broke back to *4-4. But she was broken for 4-5*, and
starting to look very tired. She saved three set-points in a
four-deuce marathon, broke back for *5-5, but was broken again for
5-6*, looked very sad at that changeover, and was just pushing the
ball back as Kleybanova held to 15 to win the second set 7-5.

At this stage, I thought Jelena had blown her chances, because she
looked so tired going into the third set. Her footwork - so beautiful
against Wozniacki - had deteriorated towards the end of the second
set; she was not getting into such a good position to hit the ball.

Kleybanova broke for *2-1 in the third, and consolidated for 3-1*
after a five-deuce marathon with three break-points for Jelena. But
Jelena got her act together as she held, broke, and held for 4-3*.

Jelena looked tired but happy when she held for *5-4, then very
disappointed when she failed to break for the match. Games continued
to go with serve, with the aforementioned ankle-incident at 6-5*, and
the trainer on court for Jelena at 7-6*.

But perhaps Jelena's injury was a distraction for Kleybanova, as
Jelena broke to love in the next game, sealing her victory with a
down-the-line backhand return-winner that Andre Agassi would have been
proud of.

Jelena's voice was crackling with emotion in her on-court interview,
but she kept her composure as she said that she was exhausted but
stayed positive, that she had to "scratch" her goals for the
Australian Open (to win her first-round match) and for the 2009 season
(to return to the top 50), and joked that the menagerie of toy-animals
attached to her bag were actually coaching her at 6-6 in the third!

Jelena is through to her first Major quarter-final since the French
Open 2002, and she'll be back in the top 100 when the rankings are
updated on Monday 2nd February - high enough to play the other three
Majors - so getting to the quarter-finals is certainly a result I
would have signed for at the beginning of the tournament!

A year ago, Jelena didn't even have a WTA Tour ranking after taking
most of 2007 off to battle depression and get herself back in the
right head-space for her comeback. It's so great to have her back
playing at this level despite everything she's been through in the
last few years!

I'll post my full TV-report at a later date.


2.1 Articles
------------

Relieved Federer through, Jankovic falls at Open (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Alan Baldwin)
>>>
A roar of relief marked Roger Federer's comeback from two sets down at
the Australian Open on Sunday, while women's world number-one Jelena
Jankovic was mute and ineffectual in a fourth-round defeat.

The whole of Melbourne Park shook with an explosion of home-town
roars, however, when Yugoslav-born Australian wild card Jelena Dokic
buried years of personal pain to reach the quarter-finals of the first
Major of the year.

The 25-year-old, whose split from domineering father Damir and
subsequent struggle with severe depression and injuries was played out
in front of the world's media, wiped tears from her eyes after her 7-5
5-7 8-6 win over Russian Alisa Kleybanova.

"I'm just really fighting," Dokic said. "I'm really determined and
fighting. That's sometimes what keeps it going."
<<<

Bartoli bounces top-seeded Jankovic in straight sets (PA SportsTicker)
>>>
Jelena Dokic dug deep and overcame a twisted ankle to upset 29th seed
Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 5-7 8-6 in just over three hours.

Dokic has been the story of the tournament so far after battling back
from depression to reclaim her place in the hearts of her adopted nation.

Her every point was cheered, and she implored to the crowd to get
behind her when she began to tire against the hard-hitting Russian.

Dokic had the crowd on the edge of their seats when, with the Russian
serving at 5-6 (15/0), she slipped and twisted her left ankle.

But she held her serve to take a 7-6 lead before clinching victory
with a fearsome backhand down the line.

"To come after a three-year layoff and to be in the quarter-finals of
a Grand Slam [sic] straightaway really gives you a lot [of]
confidence," she said after reaching the last eight of a Major for the
first time since the 2002 French Open.

Dokic has been taken to three sets in all of her matches so far, and
admitted after such a long time away from competition that it was
beginning to take its toll.

"I really struggled physically tonight," Dokic said. "I was really on
my last reserves. She really had me in that third set. To come out and
pull it out was great."
<<<

Superb Bartoli dumps out Jankovic (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7849574.stm
>>>
Third seed Dinara Safina saved two match-points on her way to beating
France's Alizé Cornet 6-2 2-6 7-5.

Safina now plays unseeded Australian Jelena Dokic, who delighted the
home fans with a gritty 7-5 5-7 8-6 win over Russian 29th seed Alisa
Kleybanova.

Riding a wave of public support and sympathy for her troubled past,
the Yugoslav-born 24-year-old reached her first Major quarter-final
since the 2002 French Open.

The match swung wildly as both players struggled with their serve and
nerves, before Dokic sealed victory when she broke Kleybanova's serve
with a return-winner in the 14th game of the deciding set.
<<<

Top seed Jelena Jankovic knocked out of Australian Open by Marion Bartoli
By Mark Hodgkinson in Melbourne (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
>>>
Meanwhile, Jelena Dokic's fairytale-comeback to the Australian Open
continued to gain momentum when she beat Russian Alisa Kleybanova
7-5 5-7 8-6.

The Yugoslav-born Australian - riding a wave of public support and
national sympathy after her troubled past - turned back the clock to
reach her first Major quarter-final since the 2002 French Open.

The match swung wildly back and forth as both players struggled with
their serve and nerves before Dokic sealed a famous victory,
triggering wild celebrations on the Melbourne Park centre court.

"This is unbelievable to be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam
[sic]," Dokic said. "I was going to have the week off, but I guess
those plans are scratched now."
<<<

---------------------
3. Quarter-final draw
---------------------

* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] (my loyalty is to VERA)
* Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v DINARA SAFINA [3] (GO JELENA!!)
* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] v Carla Suárez Navarro (davai Elena!)
* SERENA WILLIAMS [2] v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8]

------------------------
4. Quarter-final preview
------------------------

I'd just like to freeze for a long time the moment that Jelena
staggered into her first Major quarter-final since the French Open
2002 with an injured left ankle, and her tank near empty after four
emotional three-set rollercoasters.

For Jelena's next opponent is the nightmarish Dinara Safina [3]: the
Rosa Klebb of tennis, who loves to bully her opponents with
intimidating, in-your-face body-language, and specialises in fighting
back from the brink of defeat, as she did yet again in her
fourth-round match against Alizé Cornet, who led *5-2 and *5-4 (40/15)
in the third set!

Safina had a very impressive 2008: she won Berlin with wins over world
#1 Justine Henin, #6 Serena Williams and #9 Elena Dementieva; she
reached the French Open final with wins over new #1 Maria Sharapova
and #8 Elena Dementieva - both after trailing a set and 2-5, and
saving match-points - and #4 Svetlana Kuznetsova before losing to #2
Ana Ivanovic. She also won titles at Montréal,
Los Angeles and Tokyo, as well as the Olympic Silver Medal.
Her win/loss record for 2008 was a staggering 55:20.

Safina started 2009 by reaching the Hopman Cup final with her brother
Marat Safin - only to be thwarted by Slovak duo Dominika Cibulková and
Dominik Hrbatý! Safina then reached the final of Sydney despite being
unhappy with her form; she lost 6-3 2-6 6-1 to Dementieva in that final.

Safina has reached the quarter-finals here with the following results:
1r + Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-3 6-4
2r + Ekaterina Makarova, 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 6-0
3r + KAIA KANEPI [25], 6-2 6-2
4r + ALIZÉ CORNET [15], 6-2 2-6 7-5

Safina certainly hasn't been on her best form at the Australian Open
2009, but many people believe that she is now the favourite for the
title after the early exits of Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams, and
the poor form of Serena Williams. I am not one of them. Objectively, I
believe the champion will come from the bottom half of the draw, and
will be Dementieva.

I must admit it will be very tough for Jelena, with her injured ankle
and her empty tank. I can only hope that a day of rest will be enough
to put up a good performance against Safina, and that Jelena's left
ankle won't flare up after that nasty-looking slip!

BBC commentator Sam Smith said she would be amazed if Jelena could
give Safina a competitive match, because it would take an incredible
recovery: physically, mentally and emotionally. That's my worst fear;
I just hope Jelena can rediscover the magic of the last two sets
against Caroline Wozniacki in the third round, and then she might
actually have a chance against Safina.

Jelena has played Safina once before: in the second round of Shanghai
2003, when Jelena was already in a deep slump, her confidence very
low, and Safina was a 17-year-old ranked #66, and had already won two
minor WTA singles-titles. Safina won 6-1 6-4.

Jelena: "I'm playing a girl that is two, three in the world, could be
No.1 after this tournament, and is probably the favourite to win it at
the moment. There will be no pressure on me. But I would like to see
how I do against her."

Finally, Jelena's pariah father Damir has announced that if Jelena
reaches the final, he will go to Melbourne (from Serbia) to watch her.
That would be his right - and who could blame him for wanting to watch
Jelena? - but I hope he keeps a low profile, because if he goes
anywhere near Jelena, he'll probably end up seeing not so much the AO
as an AVO! ;-)


4.1 Articles
------------

2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Quarter-finals
Nick Bollettieri (nickstennispicks.com)
>>>
Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Jelena Dokic (AUS)

Safina came back from the brink of defeat two times against Alizé
Cornet, fending off double match-point and eventually winning
6-2 2-6 7-5. In the third set, she was down 2-5* and 4-5* (15/40), but
she didn't let Cornet win another game. This is the kind of thing that
the best players in the world are capable of, but I am sure she
doesn't want to go through that again!

Dokic needed over three hours to defeat Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 5-7 8-6
in front of her home-crowd. This has been an incredible run for Dokic,
who came into the tournament ranked #187 (and was in the 600s two
years ago), and win or lose against Safina, she is going to be back in
the top 100.

The Match-Up:

Safina beat Dokic in their only match, but that was way back in 2003,
so it doesn't have much bearing on this battle.

What Dokic has done in this tournament is incredible. She has come
back a couple of times now, and has really used the crowd to inspire
her play. Safina has also had a couple of extremely close calls, and
needed some valiant efforts to advance. I just don't know how much gas
is left in Dokic's tank. She has had to expend so much energy on
winning her previous matches, and not having played much recently,
I have to give the edge to Safina.

Nick's Pick: Safina in 3 sets.

P.S. If the crowd can get Safina a little frustrated, that could have
a major impact on this match!
<<<

2009 Australian Open Quarter-finals Preview
Tania Tchea (www.onthebaseline.com)
>>>
Dinara Safina (RUS)[3] vs. Jelena Dokic (AUS)

For Australian wild card Jelena Dokic, this has been a dream run to
date. With all the drama in her life over the past few years, she has
reignited her passion for tennis. This is Dokic's best Major result
since the French Open 2002.

After a hard-fought match against Ivanovic's conqueror Alisa
Kleybanova in the previous round, Dokic finds Safina waiting for her
in the next round. Dinara saved two match-points against Alizé Cornet,
and will look to decrease her unforced-error count.

This may very well be her breakthrough Major, and despite Jelena being
an excellent striker of the ball, the number-three seed should win.
There will be plenty of fist-pumping in this battle – from the court
and in the stands.

Dinara Safina in 2 sets.
<<<

------------------
5. Andrew's wishes (updated after Monday)
------------------

Jelena Dokic [WC,EF]:
qf + DINARA SAFINA [3]
sf + VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF]
_f + ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4]

----------------------------
6. Order of play for Tuesday
----------------------------

Rod Laver Arena: Day-session (start 11:00 AEDT = 00:00 GMT)
WD qf: (CASEY DELL'ACQUA/FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE)[12]
v Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Patty Schnyder
|
(not before 12:30 AEDT = 01:30 GMT)
WS qf: VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S]
|
(not before 15:00 AEDT = 04:00 GMT)
MS qf: ANDY RODDICK [7] v NOVAK ĐOKOVIC [3]
|
Rod Laver Arena: Evening-session (start 19:30 AEDT = 08:30 GMT)
WS qf: Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v DINARA SAFINA [3]
MS qf: JUAN MARTÍN DEL POTRO [8] v ROGER FEDERER [2]

The BBC has confirmed that it will be showing Jelena v Safina on the
Red Button from 08:30 GMT! :D

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos / Video
2. Third-round TV-report: Dokic v Wozniacki
3. Fourth-round draw
4. Fourth-round preview
5. Andrew's wishes
6. Mixed Doubles: Jelena Dokic withdraws
7. Order of play for Sunday

-----------------
1. Photos / Video
-----------------
1.1 Photos
----------

Jelena Dokic (three off-court and six third-round photos added):
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/related/wta040344.html

Jelena Dokic photos by Michael Babic:
http://www.ana-kokic.net/ostalo/dokic/gallery/photo_melbourne09.php

Various players including Jelena:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/


1.2 Video
---------

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/multimedia/default_video.asp
Night 5 Highlights: Dokic v Wozniacki

(This two videos wasn't working when I tried it - just a black screen
- but it might have been fixed by the time you read this.)

-------------------------------------------
2. Third-round TV-report: Dokic v Wozniacki (Friday 23rd January 2009)
-------------------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11], 3-6 6-1 6-2

Wow - Jelena has reached her first Major fourth round since Wimbledon
2002, and her first Australian Open fourth round EVER!!! She has now
reached the fourth round or better at all four Majors at various
points in her career.

Last time Jelena played in the main draw of a Major: Australian Open 2006
Last time Jelena reached the second round of a Major: US Open 2003
Last time Jelena reached the third round of a Major: Wimbledon 2003
Last time Jelena reached the fourth round of a Major: Wimbledon 2002
Last time Jelena reached a Major quarter-final: French Open 2002
Last time Jelena reached a Major semi-final: Wimbledon 2000

Last time Jelena reached the fourth round of the Australian Open: never
Last time Jelena reached the third round of the Australian Open: 1999
Last time Jelena reached the second round of the Australian Open: 1999

It was an amazing match, and Jelena's win makes me the happiest I've
been about a tennis-result since Maria Sharapova won the Australian
Open 2008. Five minutes after Jelena won, I had goosebumps all over my
body. An hour after Jelena won, I was feeling so hyper I had to stop
working on my Australian Open reports and play Cheese, Louise!
<http://www.darnkitty.com/cheese/>

In the first set, Wozniacki was just too solid: all the unforced
errors came from Jelena. Wozniacki is not often spectacular, but she's
very frustrating to play against.

But after that, Jelena suddenly found the kind of magic that thrashed
Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 at Wimbledon 1999: tremendous power, accuracy
and depth, and beautiful footwork with lots of little steps whenever
she positioned herself to smash one of the many lobs she forced from
Wozniacki. Wozniacki may be a Major champion in the making, but there
was nothing she could do about this brilliant onslaught.

It's a tragedy that Jelena has never won a Major, as she surely would
have done if her father had desisted from his beastly behaviour before
the major row Jelena had with her parents at Filderstadt in October
2002, which tore Jelena apart from her family.

But on this kind of form, with Jelena still only 25, and the current
power-vacuum at the top of women's tennis following the retirements of
Monica Seles and Justine Henin last year, the ageing of the
Williams-sisters, the six-month absence of Maria Sharapova that is
continuing as she recovers from shoulder-surgery in October 2008, and
the slump of Ana Ivanovic - I've just mentioned all the players who
have won a Major since the US Open 2006 - a maiden Major title for
Jelena (and I'm not talking about world #1 Jankovic) might not be out
of the question just yet!

I'll post my full TV-report at a later date.

--------------------
3. Fourth-round draw
--------------------

* MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] v JELENA JANKOVIC [1] (allez Marion!)
* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v NADIA PETROVA [10] (DAVAI VERA!!)
* ALIZÉ CORNET [15] v DINARA SAFINA [3] (allez Alizé!)
* Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29] (GO JELENA!!)

* ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [21] v Carla Suárez Navarro (Ąvamos Anabel!)
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [18] v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] (my loyalty is to Domi)
* ZHENG,JIE [22] v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8] (jia you Jie!)
* VICTORIA AZARENKA [13] v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (davai Victoria!)

-----------------------
4. Fourth-round preview
-----------------------

Well, I certainly didn't foresee a fourth round between Jelena and
19-year-old Alisa Kleybanova [29] when I analysed the draw last
weekend! I'm sure Jelena didn't foresee it either when she recently
became friends and hitting-partners with Kleybanova!

Not surprisingly, the two have never met, with Kleybanova being so
young when Jelena was playing regularly on the WTA Tour from 1999 to 2004.

Kleybanova: "I've heard of her a lot. When I was a little kid, I heard
of her a lot, because she was one the top players in the world years
before."

Kleybanova is a tall, well-built girl who hits the ball very hard (on
serve and groundstrokes), and has an uncanny knack of hitting line
after line after line - it's very difficult to beat her when she's
doing that!

Kleybanova has this quirky habit of jerking her head away when she's
about to serve, and has copied Maria Sharapova's song-grunt but uses
it selectively: grunting like Maria at some times, but not grunting at
all at others (in contrast to Jelena's quiet, consistent "shoo").

Kleybanova enjoyed her breakthrough-season last year, compiling a
48:20 win/loss record as she rose from #150 to #33, and made the
transition from a name I remembered from juniors to a regular on the
WTA Tour.

At last year's Australian Open, Kleybanova won four matches to qualify
and reach the second round, where she lost to Anna Chakvetadze. She
won five matches to qualify and reach the quarter-finals of Antwerp,
beating #18 Ágnes Szávay 6-2 6-3 en route, but losing to #1 Justine
Henin. She won four matches to qualify and reach the third round of
Miami - including a shocking 6-4 6-0 win over #15 Nicole Vaidišová.

Kleybanova won 6-0 6-0 against Olga Govortsova at Berlin, and I first
saw her play at Eastbourne, where she won five matches to qualify and
reach the quarter-finals, losing 6-3 6-3 to Marion Bartoli, who was on
great form at that tournament, although Kleybanova certainly showed
signs that she could be dangerous.

These signs were confirmed when she upset #12 Daniela Hantuchová
6-3 4-6 6-1 in the second round of Wimbledon, although Daniela was
playing her first tournament after a ten-week lay-off with a
right-heel injury. I saw the third set on BBCi: Daniela looked weak,
but that's when I saw Kleybanova hitting line after line. She went on
to reach the fourth round, losing to defending and eventual champion
Venus Williams.

Several modest results on the WTA Tour later, Kleybanova won ITF
Podolsk in October, and ITF Minsk in November (with first-round losses
at two ITF tournaments in between).

And Kleybanova carried this up-and-down form into 2009: at Brisbane,
she thrashed #26 Kaia Kanepi 6-1 6-4, but lost 4-6 6-4 6-2 to #54 in
the second round. At Sydney, she thrashed #30 Maria Kirilenko 6-2 6-2,
but lost 7-6 6-1 to #16 Alizé Cornet in the second round.

Kleybanova has reached the fourth round with the following results:
1r + Sofia Arvidsson, 7-5 7-5
2r + Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro, 6-1 3-6 6-2
3r + ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF], 7-5 6-7 (5/7) 6-2

Nick Bollettieri says Jelena is not ready to face Kleybanova's
pounding groundstrokes, but she certainly is: "I'm not struggling with
their games, and they're not blowing me off the court," she said after
her third round.

The outcome will be determined by whether Jelena can rediscover the
magical shotmaking that saw off Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 at Wimbledon
1999, as she did against Wozniacki after the first set, or whether she
makes too many unforced errors instead.

Of course it will also be determined by how Kleybanova reacts to her
big upset over Ivanovic, and whether she will be in line-painting mode
on Sunday, but I feel that Jelena's destiny is far more in her own
hands than Kleybanova's.

Nick Bollettieri also mentioned a weakness that Jelena might want to
exploit: "The one thing [Kleybanova] needs to work on is her
passing-shots when her opponent approaches the net."


4.1 Articles
------------

Australian Open: Day 7 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2919
>>>
Rod Laver Arena
(29) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - First meeting

Already this week, Dokic has beaten two top-twenty players, sending
local headline-writers and commentators into the stratosphere with
excitement, so the former world No.4 shouldn't have too much trouble
with a comparative unknown ranked No.31, right?

Of course it doesn't work that way - something Dokic will know only
too well. Her third-round dismantling of Danish phenom Caroline
Wozniacki was indeed an impressive follow-up to her defeat of Anna
Chakvetadze, but Kleybanova has also been due a breakthrough, and she
achieved it in the finest of styles against Ana Ivanovic on Friday night.

The 19-year-old Russian - who has now reached the last 16 at two of
the five Majors she has contested - is an accurate, powerful baseliner
with a huge serve; Dokic will need to keep her own delivery in check
to keep pace. Keeping the Aussie fans in check will be a whole other
challenge if the 25-year-old becomes only the fourth wild card to
reach a Major quarter-final.
<<<

2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Fourth Round
Nick Bollettieri (nickstennispicks.com)
>>>
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) vs. Jelena Dokic (AUS)

Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy alumnus Alisa Kleybanova reached the
fourth round with a stunning win over Ana Ivanovic. This is only the
second time in her brief career that she has been to the fourth round
of a Major, and now she is one win away from the quarters.

Dokic has been the surprise of the Aussie Open, with three great wins
(two over seeded players). The crowd support for her has been
unbelievable. It's incredible to think that in her first Major
appearance since 2006, she has reached the fourth round.

The Match-Up:

This is the first career-meeting between the 19-year-old Kleybanova
and the 25-year old Dokic.

Kleybanova comes after you from the get go, and she never relents. She
is a big girl, but covers the court well. Dokic will have to be ready
to face the pounding groundies of Kleybanova throughout the entire
match, and I am not sure if she is ready for that after being out for
so long. It is absolutely wonderful to see Dokic back out on the court
playing well, because she is an asset to the women's game. As much as
I like watching Dokic play, I have to give the edge in this match to
Kleybanova because of her recent experience and powerful game.

Nick's Pick: Kleybanova in 3 sets.
<<<

2009 Australian Open: Day Seven Preview (Aaress Lawless,
www.onthebaseline.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic (AUS) v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)[29]

It's fitting that two of the women who upset title-favourites in the
third round should now face each other across the net. Although Dokic
has been absent from the Tour for some time, she knows Kleybanova, and
spent some time hitting with her during the warm-up events preceding
Melbourne.

Sunday's match will be Kleybanova's first outing on Rod Laver Arena,
but for Dokic, the stadium is quickly becoming her home away from
home. She feeds off the energy of the crowd during her matches, as her
now-beloved fans have helped will her to three inspiring wins. It's a
pity that after all Dokic and Kleybanova accomplished to reach the
fourth round, it has to end here for one of these inspiring women.

Pick: Jelena Dokic in three sets.
<<<

------------------
5. Andrew's wishes
------------------

Jelena Dokic [WC,EF]:
4r + ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29]
qf + ALIZÉ CORNET [15]
sf + VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF]
_f + DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [18]

----------------------------------------
6. Mixed Doubles: Jelena Dokic withdraws
----------------------------------------

It appears that Jelena Dokic and Paul Hanley pulled out of the Mixed
Doubles - presumably so that Jelena could concentrate on her
singles-campaign - as Patty Schnyder/Wesley Moodie played Alisa
Kleybanova/
Bruno Soares in the first round instead.

---------------------------
7. Order of play for Sunday
---------------------------

Rod Laver Arena: Day-session (start 11:00 AEDT = 00:00 GMT)
WS 4r: MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] v JELENA JANKOVIC [1]
WS 4r: ALIZÉ CORNET [15] v DINARA SAFINA [3]
MS 4r: TOMÁŠ BERDYCH [3] v ROGER FEDERER [2]
|
Rod Laver Arena: Evening-session (start 19:30 AEDT = 08:30 GMT)
WS 4r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29]
MS 4r: Marcos Baghdatis v NOVAK ĐOKOVIC [3]

Another chance to see Jelena Dokic play on BBC Red Button! :D Surely
the BBC won't buy her out for Federer as it did on Wednesday! :fiery:

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos / Videos
2. Second-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Chakvetadze
3. Third-round draw
4. Third-round preview
5. Who'll win the Australian Open now that Venus Williams is out?
6. Mixed Doubles: First-round draw
7. Order of play for Friday

The mouthwatering all-EF match between Jelena Dokic and Anna
Chakvetadze didn't disappoint - except that the BBC instead showed
repeats of Đokovic and Federer's matches at the time they had promised
live coverage of the Rod Laver Arena evening-sessions! :fiery:

------------------
1. Photos / Videos
------------------
1.1 Photos
----------

Jelena Dokic (seven second-round photos added):
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/related/wta040344.html

Various players including Jelena:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7841385.stm (Wednesday)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7843853.stm (Thursday)


1.2 Videos
----------

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/multimedia/default_video.asp
- Night 3 Highlights: Jelena Dokic v Anna Chakvetadze

------------------------------------------------------
2. Second-round scoreboard-report: Dokic v Chakvetadze
(Wednesday 21st January 2009)
------------------------------------------------------

Very nice winner, very nice loser:
+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. ANNA CHAKVETADZE [17,EF], 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 6-3

A well-contested and very emotional match: Anna looked close to tears
at 4-6 *1-4, but it was Jelena who cried at the end, as she sat at her
chair after shaking hands.

In the first set, the first seven games were serve-dominated, and it
was Anna who broke first for *4-3 - only for Jelena to break straight
back to love as she won the last three games of the set.

In the second set, Jelena led *4-1, served for the match at *5-3, and
was also one game away from victory at *5-6. Jelena led 3/2* in the
tiebreak, only for Anna to dominate the rest of it and force a third set.

I expected Jelena to wilt in the third set after missing those
chances, and because I don't think she's as fit as she used to be. But
she's done a lot of hard work in the last year, and Anna was the one
who got tired. Jelena broke at the start of the third set (after Anna
had led 40/15), and again in the last game as Anna served a quadruple
fault.

It was Jelena's first win over a top-twenty player since beating #17
Daniela Hantuchová at Linz 2003 (the week after she upset #1 Kim
Clijsters to reach the final of Zürich). After a long losing-streak in
2004, she spent much of the intervening years in tennis-wilderness:
either on the ITF circuit or not playing for months at a time, as she
struggled with depression following her well-documented family-problems.

Anna is already down from #5 to #18 since her traumatic loss in the US
Open 2007 semi-final, and even more traumatic burglary-ordeal in
December 2007, but we must be ready for the big jump deep as she
defends her lone title of 2008 in February: WTA Paris.

The match was first on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session, but since
the BBC made good on their threat to show a repeat of Đokovic v Chardy
instead of live Jelena v Anna on the Red Button (no longer called
BBCi, apparently), I had to make do with live scores at
www.australianopen.com. :fiery:

I can only hope that the match will be available to order on DVD from
Tennis Videos International
<http://www.users.bigpond.com/tennisvideos1/>. I usually wait until
the end of the tennis-season before I order my next batch of matches
from TVI, but I'm seriously considering making an exception for the
Australian Open 2009 now that the BBC has robbed me of watching such a
mouthwatering match!


First set
---------
DOKIC * * *__@*@ 6
CHAKV _* * *@___ 4

The match started at 19:46 AEDT.

Jelena serving 0-0: 0/15. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 40/30. Held.

Already, the signs are that both girls are going to make this
competitive. :)

Anna serving 0-1: 0/15. 40/15 (the score briefly reverted to 30/15 -
did Jelena make an incorrect Hawk-Eye challenge?). Held.

Anna holds more easily than Jelena. That's not unexpected, as Jelena
has often struggled on serve throughout her career, while Anna has an
excellent one-two punch (although it has gone AWOL at times since the
burglary), and usually holds serve reliably - at least until she has
to serve for a set.

Jelena serving 1-1: 40/0. Held.

"Anything you can do, I can do better."

Anna serving 1-2: 0/15. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. Held.

I feel the momentum shifting more and more towards Jelena, with 0/15
and 15/30 openings on Anna's serve. Just enough to make Jelena
confident, without the baggage of any wasted break-points so far...

Jelena serving 2-2: 40/0. 40/15. Held.
Anna serving 2-3: 0/15. 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. 30/40 (BP #1). 40/40. Ad
Jelena (BP #2). Deuce #2. Ad Jelena (BP #3). Deuce #3. Ad Anna. Held.

Three break-points go begging for Jelena, and a pattern is developing
that suggests Anna is much more comfortable serving in the left court
than in the right court.

Jelena serving 3-3: 0/30. 15/30. 15/40 (BPx2). 40/40.
Ad Anna (BP #3). Deuce #2. Ad Anna (BP #4). Broken.

Typical for a player who squanders break-points to get broken herself
in the next game! Anna is lucky not to be carrying that same baggage
herself, but both the score and the momentum are firmly in her favour now.

Anna serving 4-3: 0/40 (BPx3). Broken.

Wow - a champion's response from Jelena! In the blink of an eye, she
cancels Anna's break and seizes the momentum.

Jelena serving 4-4: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/30 (the score briefly
reverted to 40/15, which suggests an incorrect Hawk-Eye challenge for
Jelena). Held.

The sequence of scores of the last two games suggest that Jelena has
hit one of her purple patches. For Anna, saving this set could be like
trying to stop a runaway horse...

Anna serving 4-5: 15/0. 15/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Jelena (SP #1). Deuce
#2. Ad Jelena (SP #2).
Jelena won the first set 6-4 at 20:23 AEDT (37 minutes).

A very well-contested set, with the breaks occurring at exactly the
right times for drama. I really hope I will be able to order it from
Tennis Videos International one day and watch it!

It would be fascinating to see how emotional they both get. Anna is
famous for getting emotional on court - crying and putting her body
through all sorts of contortions - while this is a very emotional
return to the Australian Open for Jelena, who broke down in her
first-round press-conference.


Second set
----------
DOKIC * *@*__@__*__ 6(4)
CHAKV _*___*@ @* *T 7(7)

Jelena serving 0-0: 40/0. 40/15. Held.
Anna serving 0-1: 40/0. 40/15. Held.

That was a very important game for Anna to steady the ship.

Jelena serving 1-1: 40/0. Held.

Jelena continues to hold serve easily after being broken for 3-4* in
the first.

Anna serving 1-2: 0/40 (BPx3). 40/40. Ad Jelena (BP #4). Broken.

I feel just like the Jelena of 1999-2002 is back! :D A set and a break
up, and really threatening to run away with this match unless her
bubble suddenly bursts...

Jelena serving 3-1: 40/0. 40/30. Held.

It feels like a long way back from *1-4, but it's only one break.

Anna serving 1-4: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/40. Ad Anna. Held.

A vital hold for Anna, because she would have been history if she had
gone 1-5* down. Still in with a fighting chance, albeit a 12.5% one if
we give her a 50% chance of breaking back, 50% to win the second set
from 4-4* and 50% to win the third, although those chances could
greatly improve if Anna were to regain the momentum...

Jelena serving 4-2: 15/0. 15/15. 15/40 (BPx2). Broken.

Good for Anna. I must confess I've been getting very excited for
Jelena, but as an Anna-fan too, it's important for me that she at
least adds more respectability to the scoreline.

Anna serving 3-4: 0/30 (the scoreboard briefly reverted to 0/15 - an
incorrect challenge for Anna?). 0/40 (BPx3). Broken.

The moment of truth for Jelena: serving for the match...

Jelena serving 5-3: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/40 (BP). Broken.

...but Anna breaks back, and the momentum switches back to her! I now
give Anna a 25% chance of winning this match (50% for the second set
and 50% for the third), as she has the momentum but Jelena still has
the lead (and Anna has been struggling on serve since *2-3 in the first).

Anna serving 4-5: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Held.

Anna's chances of victory are being boosted with every game now, as
she levels up at 5-5 with two games in a row, and it would be
interesting to see how much Jelena would have left in the tank if this
were to go to a third set... her victory is in great danger right now.

Jelena serving 5-5: 40/0. 40/30. Held.

Once again, Jelena is one game away from victory...

Anna serving 5-6: 40/0. Held.

A tiebreak is very much about luck, although it could be tougher for
Jelena if she dwells on those leads of *5-3 and 6-5*.

6-6 tiebreak (all scores Jelena/Anna): *0/0. 1/0*. 1/1*. *1/2. *2/2.
3/2*. This point is HUGE... 3/3*. *3/4. *3/5. 3/6* (SP #1).
4/6* (SP #2). Anna won the second set 7-6 (7/4) at 21:16 AEDT
(second set 53m, match so far 1h30m).

The delay between the last scoreboard-update of the first set and the
first of the third was less than two minutes. I'm surprised they
didn't take a bathroom-break - and glad that /I/ didn't! ;-)

Can Jelena put the disappointment of blowing at 6-4 *5-3 lead behind
her, and how much does she have left for the third set? Her chances
feel considerably less than 50% at the moment...


Third set
---------
DOKIC @* * * *@ 6
CHAKV __* * *__ 3

Anna serving 0-0: 15/0. 15/15. 40/15. 40/40. Ad Jelena (BP). Broken.

I thought Anna had the momentum, but a new set is a new story. It's
lucky for Jelena that they're not playing in the day-session,
otherwise I'd be reminded of the 2002 Australian Open final between
Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis, where Hingis was 6-4 4-0 up,
Capriati took the second set, Hingis broke at the start of the third,
but wilted soon after that.

Jelena serving 1-0: 0/15. 15/15. 40/15. Held.
Anna serving 0-2: 40/0. 40/30. Held.

Jelena deserves a medal for her determination after losing that second
set after being on the verge of victory.

Quite a long delay at this changeover - I wonder if someone is taking
a medical time-out? So I checked at
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=367394&page=42 : it seems
it was for Jelena's right Achilles' tendon - the one that kept her out
of Hobart.

Jelena serving 2-1: 30/0. 30/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Jelena. Deuce #2. Ad
Jelena. Deuce #3. Ad Jelena (it only flashed up for a second on the
scoreboard). Deuce #4. Ad Jelena. Deuce #5. Ad Anna (BP).
Deuce #6. Ad Jelena. Held.

What a game! Six game-points needed, one break-point saved, and Anna
will be feeling very bad right now.

Anna serving 1-3: 0/15. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Anna.
Deuce #2. Ad Anna. Held.

Full marks to Anna for hanging in this match. She recovered from *1-4
in the second set, but it will not be necessary to fight back from
1-4* in the third.

Jelena serving 3-2: 0/15. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad
Jelena. Held.

Anna continues to fight, while Jelena continues to maintain her break.
How she would love to get a second break, rather than go through what
she did in the second.

Anna serving 2-4: 0/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Anna. Held.

It's such a shame that they can't both win! I think they should be
allowed to advance to the third round as a doubles-team, playing two
against one!

Jelena serving 4-3: 0/15. 15/15. 40/15. Held.

The moment of truth again for Jelena, albeit at 5-3* rather than *5-3
this time...

Anna serving 3-5: 30/0. 30/40 (MP #1). 40/40. Ad Jelena (MP #2). Deuce
#2. Ad Jelena (MP #3). Jelena won 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 at 22:04 (third
set 48m, match 2h18m).

She really didn't want to have to serve for the match again, did she?

Anna finished the match with a quadruple fault, but it was Jelena who
was in tears after shaking hands.

I don't know what to feel right now. It's tough for Anna to lose in
the second round of a Major - it won't be any consolation to /her/
that she lost to another hottie - and I feel sorry for Anna, but I'm
glad Jelena managed to close it out in the end, because it would have
been a devastating - possibly even career-ending - blow for her to
lose after the leads she had in the second set, and then match-points
in the third.

Anna still has many years ahead of her, while Jelena is thinking of
retiring if she fails to make an impact in 2009. It's strange to think
that Jelena is only four years older at 25, considering that I
inducted Jelena into my Eternal Fanship in June 1999, and Anna in
December 2006.


2.1 Statistics
--------------

Both girls had negative W:UE ratios: Jelena 27:35, Anna 28:50.
Jelena's W:UE ratio deteriorated slightly from set to set, while
Anna's deteriorated dramatically: from 10:14 to 8:15 to 10:21,
implying that she went for her shots more in the third set because she
was tired.

Jelena got 68% of her first serves in, winning 70% of the points when
she did so, and 45% on second serve. Her first-serve
winning-percentage dipped from 77% in the first set to the late 60s in
the next two, while her second-serve winning-percentage improved
dramatically from set to set (33% to 46% to 55%).

Anna got 67% of her first serves in, winning 66% of the points when
she did so, and 33% on second serve. Her second serve was a liability
especially in the first and third sets: 31% and 21%, respectively.

Jelena's first serve was slightly faster than Anna's - fastest 108-106
mph, average 100-99 mph - but Jelena's second serve was /much/ faster
than Anna's: 94-79 mph. Jelena's second serve is exceptionally fast:
sometimes it looks like she just hits two first serves!

Jelena served 3 aces and 9 double faults, which is a bit high. But
Anna served 5 aces and a monstrous 16 double faults (6 in the first
set, 7 in the third) - including a quadruple fault to finish the
match. :-(

Jelena broke 6 times from 15 BPs (2 of 5 in every set), while Anna
broke 3 times from 7 BPs. Jelena won the first set by 2 breaks to 1
(Anna wasted 3 BPs), and the third by 2 breaks to 0 (Anna wasted 1
BP); they had 2 breaks each in the second.

Jelena won 12 of 20 points at the net (5 of 6 in the first set, but
only 3 of 8 in the second), while Anna was more selective, winning 10
of 12 (but she only came in once in the third set).

In points, Jelena won 118-104 (first set 37-29, second set 38-40,
third set 43-35).


2.2 Jelena's on-court interview
-------------------------------

"It's been a long time; last time I was on this court, it was a bit
different.

"Thank you all for supporting me; it's unbelievable. I really just
wanted to put in a good display tonight - she's a top-twenty player -
but the crowd really pulled me through.

"It's been an amazing night, and no matter what happens from here on
in, I will not forget this memory for a long time. This is a great
start to the year, and hopefully this time next year, I'll be a
top-twenty player myself."


2.3 Jelena's second-round press-conference
------------------------------------------

Source: www.australianopen.com


Q. You must be very proud of that.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I am. Yeah, I just went into the match just
wanting to see how I would go against a top-twenty player. I was very
nervous to be on centre court again. It's been a long time.

Just really wanted to see where I was with my shots and fitness and
movement. I started to play well. I think she had a slow start, but
she started to play really well in that second set. I let her off that
5-3 game where I had 30/15 and did a few unforced errors and double
faults.

But overall, I think the things went her way in the third set. She
really had the momentum. It's amazing I was able to come out and pull
it out.

Q. Could you imagine six months ago getting a standing ovation on Rod
Laver Arena?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I could not. I said 2008 and 2009 are the years I'm
going to try and come back and do something. I've put in a lot of hard
work last year - especially the end of last year.

You know, I've just been really, really focused and really wanted it
so bad. Things are going really well at the moment. I couldn't imagine
a better start to the year. In Brisbane, I said it was a good start. I
lost to Amélie [Mauresmo] in two tight sets. I had her in both sets,
and I could have won that match.

I just wasn't in that position for a long time, and I didn't know how
to treat the situation and what to play.

You know, I was very proud of that match, even. But, you know, to be
in the third round of a Grand Slam [sic], you know, players lose
match-fitness and their physical shape and their shots in six months
away from the game, let alone the three years. To beat a top-twenty
player is amazing.

Q. How much did that match you were talking about there help you in
the tight situations?

JELENA DOKIC: You know, like I said, she's the one that I think had
the pressure on her. She was supposed to win today. She was the clear
favourite, so that went kind of in my favour. But I think as the match
went on, and as I was up, I was up the whole time until the tiebreak
in the second set.

She kind of just went on with it. I really had to finish it off. She
is a fighter. She always hangs in there. But this is a huge
confidence-boost for me.

You know, no matter what happens from here on, I'm really happy with
such a good start to the year. I want to be top 50 by the end of the
year, and I think if I continue playing like I have been playing, this
should be achievable.

Q. What was the reason you went quite a few times to play in Italy? It
was because you won Rome and you performed well there? Some
psychological reason?

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I feel good in Italy. I played really well there.
It was my first title, so there's no question about that. Clay is not
my favourite surface, so I wanted to play on clay and really build my
game a little.

That surface doesn't suit me. You have to play long matches and
points. I think that went in my favour. It was just comfortable. It
felt like the most natural thing to do. It was in Europe, and that's
where I was training at the time. I think that really helped me.

You have some wins and you have some losses, but you really have to
grind it out. It's tough, no matter what people think. The ITF circuit
is, you know, we're all trying to win out there.

Q. Are you getting used to using your emotions and using the crowd and
using the way you're feeling?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I came back I think two or three years ago to
Australia, and obviously the crowd, I didn't expect them to be on my
side and to understand what happened seven years ago. You know, each
year it's gotten better and better.

But, you know, I will regret the decision that I made. I can say that
I made it under the influence of my dad, but I will regret leaving for
the rest of my life. It will always be the mistake that I made.

But, you know, it's really amazing. The crowd has just gotten better
and better every year in Brisbane already.

But I think tonight was an amazing experience. It's been the best that
I've ever had. I don't expect everybody to understand, of course. But,
look, I'm trying my best. I'm fighting and playing for this country.
You know, I'm proud to play for this country again.

So, you know, I think by the reaction tonight, people have really -
things have swung my way, and I'm really happy about that. I was
really glad to make the decision three years ago to come back.

Q. Does it play on your mind? Do you wonder what if you hadn't had
those years in the wilderness?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it always does. But, look, I cannot go back and
change things. What's done is done. I can only look forward. I think
we all can. Hopefully the crowd can do that as well.

Q. Can you talk about the role that your boyfriend and his brother
have played in your career?

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said the other day, it's been really tough to
deal with some personal issues. My boyfriend has always been there for
me. It's actually our five-and-a-half years' anniversary today. We
always give each other something, and this is my present to him today.

Yeah, he's played a huge part in everything. When you have emotional
breakdowns and everything I had to deal with, you really get weak
mentally. It's not easy to come back and be strong, and able to
compete and play. It's really tough. So I really had to work on and
build that.

You go crazy basically, and you react the way you shouldn't. He's
dealt with all that and stuck by my side, so...

Q. Do you still dream of maybe winning a Grand Slam? Getting back to
the top 10?

JELENA DOKIC: I think that's a little bit too much to ask right now.
Like I said, players after six months out of the game really struggle
coming back. It takes a long time. I actually think I react well and I
improve quickly and my confidence goes up quickly, which plays a huge
part in my game.

Of course I don't expect to win here - not this year. After what I've
been through, like I said, my goal is to be in the top 20 by the end
of my career. If I do that, I'll be satisfied.

You know, I will try as hard as I can to even do better if it's
possible. We'll see how I go. It's a good start. It's a great start to
have third week of the year and have a top-twenty win in a Grand Slam
[sic]. Hopefully I can keep it going.

Q. Your next opponent will be Wozniacki. What do you know about her,
and how do you see your chances?

JELENA DOKIC: I watched a little bit. I don't know her that well. I
don't know a lot of the players that have come up. I haven't watched
tennis that much in the last couple [of] years. Of course it will be a
tough match.

After today and getting these two wins here, I really don't care what
happens in the next match. I really want to put a good performance in.
Again, she's a favourite. She'll be a tougher match. She has all the
pressure on her.

Q. Did you read anything in these days that you would have not liked
to read?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't read the papers that much, honestly. You know,
you always expect to get positive press and negative, and it's
something that comes with this line of work. It's normal.

But, yeah, like I said, I just try to do my best on the court and,
yeah, I will try not to read the papers too much.

Q. How is your injury, and is it going to affect your next round?

JELENA DOKIC: It's been here for a while. I'm trying to treat it and
keep it as good as possible, but I pulled up well after my first
match. Wasn't sore at all. We'll see how I go tomorrow.

It's something that's not so serious. It's something that I just have
to keep an eye on.


2.4 Articles
------------

Aussie hope Dokic beats Chakvetadze [Teletext 495->498]
>>>
Dokic shocks Chakvetadze [Teletext 498]

Jelena Dokic scored her first win over a top-twenty player for five
years to book her third-round place in Melbourne.

The 25-year-old former world No.4 took the first set 6-4 against
17th-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze, but let slip a 4-1 lead in the
second before going down in the tiebreak 7/4.

Dokic raced into a 3-1 lead in the decider, and sealed a 6-4 6-7 (4/7)
6-3 win when Chakvetadze double-faulted.
<<<

Determined Dokic drops Chakvetadze
By Vanessa Skendaris (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Australian Jelena Dokic has beaten 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze of
Russia in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena crowd on Wednesday night:
6-4 6-7(4) 6-3.

In a competitive first set, both players held their serve in the first
six games. Chakvetadze was the first to win a break for the match, but
Dokic broke back straight away, levelling the opening set at four
games apiece.

Dokic - a former world No.4 - went on to win the next two games,
breaking Chakvetadze again and pinching the set 6-4.

It looked like Dokic had the second set under control as she dashed to
a 4-1 lead, running all over the 21-year-old Russian.

But Chakvetadze worked the Australian hard, winning the next two games
and bringing herself back into the match.

The set then became an exchange of breaks as Chakvetadze found her
range and levelled the set 5-5, eventually forcing it to a tiebreak.

Dokic - a 2000 Wimbledon semi-finalist - made numerous errors in the
tiebreak, which gave Chakvetadze a mini-break, the Russian ultimately
snatching it 7/4 in a set that lasted 52 minutes.

In the deciding set, the 25-year-old Australian raced to a 3-1 lead,
moving well around the court despite calling for a trainer for
treatment on her ankle in the first exchange of ends.

Serving to stay in the match at 3-5 down, Chakvetadze saved two
match-points, but failed to survive another, handing the match to
Dokic by serving a double fault.

Dokic, who received a standing ovation after her win, has set up a
tantalising clash with 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the next round.

Quick facts:

* Chakvetadze served five aces to Dokic's three, but paid the price
for 16 double faults.

* The Russian had 50 unforced errors to Dokic's 35.

* Chakvetadze had more winners: 28-27.

* Dokic only capitalised on 6 of 15 break-point opportunities, while
Chakvetadze converted 3 of her 7 break-point chances.
<<<

Making up for lost time
By Eleanor Preston (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic is fast becoming one of the most compelling stories of
this tournament, and she created another intriguing chapter by beating
17th seed Anna Chakvetadze in a sizzler of a night-session match on
Wednesday.

Dokic's resurgence has given the public – both in her adopted country
and around the world – the chance to get to know this complex and
characterful young woman a little more than they did when she first
burst onto the scene as a teenager.

In those days, Dokic hit the ball fiercely, and proved, by reaching as
high as No.4 in the world, that she had talent in abundance - but the
controversy surrounding her father Damir rather eclipsed her
personality. Perhaps as a consequence of what must have been an
immensely difficult personal life, Dokic was guarded in public. Now,
estranged from her father and back under Australian colours after a
short-lived return to Serbia – a move encouraged by Damir - she has
opened her heart.

"You know, I will regret the decision that I made. I can say that I
made it under the influence of my dad, but I will regret leaving for
the rest of my life. It will always be the mistake that I made," said
Dokic, when asked about the crowd's reaction to her against
Chakvetadze. "It's really amazing. The crowd has just gotten better
and better every year. But I think tonight was an amazing experience.
It's been the best that I've ever had. I don't expect everybody to
understand, of course. But, look, I'm trying my best. I'm fighting and
playing for this country. I'm proud to play for this country again.
So, you know, I think by the reaction tonight, people have really...
things have swung my way, and I'm really happy about that. I was
really glad to make the decision three years ago to come back."

Many of those in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena must have read her
compelling but rather sad story in the local newspapers, and it is one
of the reasons why her arrival on court was greeted with a throaty
roar. Granted, the Melbourne Park faithful like to get behind their
home-players, but their reaction to Dokic was about more than that; it
was a warm rush of empathy which welcomed her back onto one of the
sport's biggest stages.

Dokic does not give much away on court, but the television-pictures of
her waiting for announcer Craig Willis to say her name told their own
story about what it meant for her to be back on centre court. In the
doorway and just out of the public's view, her eyes shone and she
allowed herself a brief smile before Willis's trademark tone beckoned
her onto court. Her demeanour changed instantly as the game-face came
down and she walked out, ready to do battle against Chakvetadze.

Together, they produced a match of enduring quality and drama, and
arguably the pick of the women's matches so far at this tournament.
There were times when they were so closely matched in their standards
and styles of play that it was hard to distinguish between them,
dressed as they were in green and white and sporting almost matching
ponytails.

Dokic's game is a tad less crafty than Chakvetadze's, for the Russian
has a remarkable knack for surprise and disguise in her shots. But she
could not match Dokic for purity of ball-striking.

The only threat to Dokic's chances of winning seemed to be the sheer
importance of the match to the Australian, and there was a distinct
wobble when she first came to serve for it at 5-3 up in the second
set. The crowd willed her to finish Chakvetadze off, but the Russian's
obstinacy and some frazzled nerves from the home-player saw to it that
there would be a third set.

Dokic, to her credit, regrouped quickly after losing the tiebreak, and
was soon up a break and set fair on her journey back to the big time.

"Thank you all for supporting me," Dokic told the crowd afterwards,
her voice cracking with emotion. "It's great. I really wanted to put
in a good performance in tonight. This crowd really pulled me through,
and they were unbelievable. No matter what happens from here, this has
been an amazing experience, and a memory I will not forget for a long
time."

She even got a laugh out of them when she was asked about how she
thought she might fare against talented young Dane Caroline Wozniacki
in the third round. "Honestly? I don't care," she said, before that
smile of hers returned. After all that Dokic has been through, you
could not blame her for wanting to enjoy her moment to the full.
<<<

Dokic Win Over No.17 Seed Augurs Well For Comeback
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2906
>>>
Jelena Dokic's comeback from tennis-oblivion converted from dream to
reality on Wednesday night, when the former world No.4 beat No.17 seed
Anna Chakvetadze in their second-round match at the Australian Open:
6-4 6-7(4) 6-3.

Playing on Rod Laver Arena for the first time in eight long years, the
25-year-old not only outplayed her more fancied opponent
stroke-for-stroke, she never let the tension of the occasion get the
better of her. It was as if she'd never been away.

Years of family-breakdown, depression and disenchantment with tennis
were quickly forgotten as Dokic made an aggressive start, breaking
Chakvetadze - who is struggling with her own loss-of-form issues - and
holding on to take the first set with surprising ease.

As the Russian's double-fault and unforced-error count mounted in the
second set, Dokic served for the match at 5-3. However, Chakvetadze
regained her composure, capitalising on a momentary loss of
concentration on Dokic's part. With some crafty play of her own, the
21-year-old took the set in a tiebreak.

But Dokic shrugged off that disappointment by breaking her opponent in
the first game of the decider, and although Chakvetadze would draw
level and then seize a break of her own for 4-3, Dokic married
patience and power to win three games in a row. Chakvetadze
capitulated on Dokic's third match-point, scooping a backhand long.

"I think she had a slow start, but she's a fighter, and she began to
play really well in that second set," observed Dokic, who reached the
semis at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, and has five Tour-titles to her
name. "I let her off that 5-3 game where I had 30/15 and did a few
unforced errors and double faults.

"She was the one with all the pressure, and I think that helped me.
I just wanted to put on a good performance, and then things started
going my way. This is a big confidence-boost."

If one casualty of the Dokic family's dramas was the player's
relationship with the Australian public, it was clear after the
2-hour, 16-minute contest that the world No.187 appreciated the
heartfelt homecoming.

"Thank you all for supporting me: it's unbelievable," said Dokic, her
voice cracking as the sell-out crowd stood in ovation. "It's been an
amazing night, and no matter what happens from here on in, I will not
forget this for a long time."

Dokic, who secured her place in the draw by winning a wild-card
play-off event run by Tennis Australia in December, faces No.11 seed
Caroline Wozniacki in the third round. At least tonight, the intense
competitor professed to be pretty sanguine about the prospect.

"You know, no matter what happens from here on, I'm really happy with
such a good start to the year," Dokic said. "I want to be top 50 by
the end of the year, and I think if I continue playing like I have
been playing, this should be achievable.

"My goal is to be top 20 [again] by the end of my career," she smiled.
"If I do that, I'll be satisfied."
<<<

Safin-family surges through Open with Federer
By Ossian Shine (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Former world number-four Jelena Dokic thrilled a seething mass of
green and gold local fans by beating Russian 17th seed Anna
Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 6-3.

"I've just been really, really focused and really wanted it so bad,"
the on-again-off-again-on-again Australian said.

"Things are going really well at the moment."
<<<

Triumphant Dokic wins back support of Australians (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Jelena Dokic, riding high on a wave of public sympathy and support,
upset Russian 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 6-3 on Wednesday to
reach the third round of the Australian Open.

The Serbian-born Australian registered her first win over a player
ranked in the top-twenty for five years, and her first victory on
Melbourne Park's centre court for a decade.

Dokic's brave win was charged with a combination of raw emotion and pain.

Facing an opponent ranked 169 places above her, Dokic tried to keep
her feelings under control as she tried to mend her fractured
relationship with the Australian public.

"I was very nervous to be on centre court again. It's been a long
time," said the 25-year-old, who struggled with an Achilles' injury
during the match.

"She had a slow start, but she started to play really well in that
second set.

"She really had the momentum. It's amazing I was able to come out and
pull it out."

Although she began her playing-career in Australia, Dokic's
relationship with her adopted country turned sour when her family
returned to Serbia in 2001 after her now-estranged father Damir
accused Australian Open organisers of rigging the draw to ensure his
daughter lost in the first round.

Two years later, Dokic walked out on her family and returned to
Australia. Her relationship with her family has never been the same,
and she is trying to patch things up with Australia.

Earlier this week, Dokic broke down and revealed the extent of the
pain and torment she endured since breaking up with her own family.

The former world number-four pleaded for understanding.

"I made it under the influence of my dad, but I will regret leaving
for the rest of my life. It will always be the mistake that I made,"
she told a news-conference on Wednesday.

"I don't expect everybody to understand, of course, but I'm trying my
best."

Dokic was wildly cheered by the crowd at Melbourne Park and
appreciated the backing.

"I'm fighting and playing for this country. I'm proud to play for this
country again, and I think by the reaction tonight... things have
swung my way," she said.

"I cannot go back and change things. What's done is done. I can only
look forward. I think we all can. Hopefully the crowd can do that as
well."
<<<

Jelena Dokic shows emotion after 'amazing win' at Australian Open (The
Daily Telegraph - UK)
>>>
An emotional Jelena Dokic scored her first win over a top-twenty
player in five years when she downed 17th seed Anne Chakvetadze
6-4 6-7 (7/4) 6-3 in the second round of the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old, who is known as much for her estranged father Damir's
antics during the early part of her career as she is for her tennis,
described the crowd's reaction during the thrilling three-setter as
"amazing".

Dokic only picked up her racquet again at the end of 2007 after
battling depression and other personal issues in the two years prior.

"I came back two or three years ago to Australia, and obviously the
crowd, I didn't expect them to be on my side, and to understand what
happened seven years ago," Dokic said.

"I will regret that decision that I made. I can say that I made it
under the influence of my dad, but I will regret leaving for the rest
of my life. It will always be the mistake that I made.

"But I think tonight was an amazing experience. It's been the best
that I've ever had."

In a match that lasted over two hours, Dokic looked composed
throughout, and used her powerful groundstrokes to run her Russian
opponent around the court.

But she interspersed that by coming to the net on occasions to force
the error from Chakvetadze, and with the Russian battling fatigue in
the final set, Dokic was able to hold her nerve to claim her
confidence-boosting win.

Her efforts have earned her a match with 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki,
who beat Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-3 6-3.
<<<

Dokic's dream continues (Linda Pearce, The Age)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has taken the most important step in her improbable
comeback, beating her first top-twenty opponent in more than five
years to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the first
time in a decade. She was reduced to tears, but rewarded with a
standing ovation. At 25, Dokic's career has begun again.

Still carrying some extra kilograms, but no longer the burden of the
paternal tyranny that ruled her life for so long, Dokic upset 17th
seed Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 in 137 minutes before a
capacity-crowd that contributed to a record one-day attendance at any
Major of 63,557.

This time last year, Dokic had fallen off the computer, having battled
depression that affected her so badly that some days her victory lay
in simply getting out of bed. Now she is back to 187th, and will
tomorrow face Danish sensation Caroline Wozniacki - the 11th seed -
for a place in the fourth round. Not so long ago, how unthinkable that
would have been, for not since 2006 had she even played a Major match,
much less won one.

"It's been a long time," Dokic said before leaving the court. "The
last time I played on this court, the story was a bit different, but
thank you all for supporting me; it feels really unbelievable. It's
been an amazing night, and no matter what happens from here on, this
is an amazing experience and a memory I will not forget for a long time."

And how would she recover ahead of her match against Wozniacki, Dokic
professed not to care. This had been achievement enough. "She's a
great player. I have nothing to lose, and I'll just try to play good
tennis."

Later, she spoke of her regrets at following her father's instructions
to return to represent her birth-nation: Serbia; of her top-fifty
ambitions by the end of the year, and top twenty eventually. Dokic
also dedicated the win to her boyfriend, Tin Bikic, as a present to
celebrate the couple's five-and-a-half-year-anniversary.

The Serbian-born Australian's first-round defeat of Austrian teenager
Tamira Paszek was her first in a decade at the Australian Open, but
she had not won on Rod Laver Arena in her two previous attempts -
against Martina Hingis in the third round of 1999, and Lindsay
Davenport in the opening round two years later.

Chakvetadze is not in the class of either former No.1, although once
ranked as high as fifth, and now 18th. Last night, indeed, she was
well below it for much of the early stages, playing so limply that she
appeared close to tears at 1-4 in the second set.

In contrast to a tense final practice-session in which she ordered a
replacement hitting-partner and left coach Borna Bikic in no doubt
about her displeasure, Dokic appeared composed and calm. She also
appeared utterly intent, while tightening considerably in the latter
stages of a second set she failed to serve out at 5-3. The tiebreak,
too, was disappointing, and the danger was that, knowing the match
should already be over, she would fall away in the third.

But, in fact, Dokic gained the early service-break, and managed to
hang on through the final six games of an extremely tense decider in
which she called a trainer to inspect a sore right foot while leading
2-1. Of immense help was the shaky Chakvetadze serve - the Russian
finishing with consecutive double faults: her 15th and 16th of the match.

Dokic won the wild-card play-off last month, and was named for a Fed
Cup recall after pushing Amélie Mauresmo in the first round of the
Brisbane International, but then withdrew from the Hobart
qualifying-event with an Achilles' injury that did nothing to endear
her to the locals anticipating the return of one of the few local
drawcards in the women's game.

But there was no question about the crowd's support last night, which
Dokic discovered to her surprise and delight. Her great mistake and
regret, she said, had been to renounce her Australian status - however
much it had been forced upon her. "I don't expect everybody to
understand, of course, but I'm trying my best, and I'm proud to play
for this country," she said.

Much of her career prize-money is gone - lining the pockets of Damir -
but Dokic told The Age recently that the financial price was one she
was prepared to pay to gain the independence that was at once
liberating and terrifying. She needed to escape a dire situation, but
was left alone and, often, bereft. She was depressed, and struggled
with her mind and body.

But now she is competing again - for what she admits is the last time.

"I said that 2008 and 2009 are the years I'm just trying to come back
and play again, and do something, and I have put in a lot of hard work
last year - especially at the end of the year - and I have been
really, really focused, and just wanted it so badly," she said.
"Things are going well at the moment. I couldn't dream a better start
to the year."
<<<

Brave Jelena Dokic scores vintage Australian Open win
By Nikki Tugwell (The Daily Telegraph - Australia)
>>>
Jelena Dokic dedicated her win last night to the most important man in
her life.

Estranged from her father Damir, her boyfriend Tin Bikic has been her
rock for the past five-and-a-half years, and after securing a
third-round berth with victory against Russian Anna Chakvetadze, she
said it was a gift to him.

"It's been really tough to deal with some personal issues," Dokic said.

"My boyfriend has always been there for me.

"It's our five-and-a-half years anniversary today... this is my
present to him today."

After being in the tennis-wilderness for the past five years, the
former world No.4 certainly won back the hearts of her adopted country
with an inspirational performance, fighting off an Achilles'
injury-scare to prevail 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 in a 2h17m epic.

Her boyfriend's brother Borna is Dokic's coach, and after her
three-set win, the siblings embraced emotionally.

"When you have emotional breakdowns and everything I had to deal with,
you really get weak mentally," Dokic said.

"It's not easy to come back and be strong and able to compete and play.

"It's really tough. You go crazy, basically, and you react the way you
shouldn't.

"He's dealt with all that and stuck by my side."
<<<

As have I! There have been times in the last five years when I've felt
disappointed in Jelena (now that I know the extent to which she was
affected by her family-problems, I am more understanding of what I
perceived at the time as a loss of motivation), and I've had to endure
numerous false dawns of a comeback, but I never for a moment regretted
inducting her into my Eternal Fanship.

-------------------
3. Third-round draw
-------------------

* JELENA JANKOVIC [1] v AI SUGIYAMA [26]
* Lucie Šafárová [EF] v MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] (my loyalty is to LUCIE)
* NADIA PETROVA [10] v Galina Voskoboeva
* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v Sara Errani (DAVAI VERA!!)

* KAIA KANEPI [25] v DINARA SAFINA [3]
* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] v ALIZÉ CORNET [15] (my loyalty is to
DANIELA)
* Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11] (my loyalty is to JELENA)
* ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF] v ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29] (ajde Ana!)

* María José Martínez Sánchez v Carla Suárez Navarro
* FLAVIA PENNETTA [12,DF] v ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [21] (forza Flavia!)
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [18] v Virginie Razzano (podme Domi!)
* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] v Samantha Stosur (davai Elena!)

* ALYONA BONDARENKO [31] v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8] (davai Alyona!)
* ZHENG,JIE [22] v Kateryna Bondarenko (jia you Jie!)
* VICTORIA AZARENKA [13] v AMÉLIE MAURESMO [20] (davai Victoria!)
* Peng,Shuai [S] v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (jia you Shuai!)

----------------------
4. Third-round preview
----------------------

Jelena may have upset the odds to reach her first Major third round
since Wimbledon 2003, but her likely opponent was always going to be
18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki [11], and so it has proved. Not
surprisingly - with Wozniacki being so young, and Jelena being off the
main Tour for so long - they've never met before.

Wozniacki won the Girls' Singles at Wimbledon 2006 when she was just
15, and in 2008, she really began to translate that promise to the WTA
Tour, compiling a phenomenal 58:20 win/loss record.

Wozniacki reached the fourth round here last year, upsetting #21
Alyona Bondarenko 7-6 6-1 in the second round, and losing 6-1 7-6 to
Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round.

She reached the quarter-finals of Doha after thrashing world #9 Marion
Bartoli 6-2 6-3, but caught a harsh lesson from #5 Maria Sharapova:
6-0 6-1. Fourth rounds at Indian Wells and Miami followed - she
thrashed #10 Bartoli 6-3 6-1 at the latter.

After a modest clay-court season, I saw Wozniacki lose 6-4 6-1 to Ana
Ivanovic in the third round of the French Open, but in the first set,
Wozniacki had Ana "swatting away as if she's trying to get rid of a
particularly persistent fly". Wozniacki seems to enjoy long rallies,
so Jelena won't want to get into too many of those!

At Eastbourne, Wozniacki scored a stunning 6-2 6-2 win over #4
Svetlana Kuznetsova, and at Wimbledon she had the momentum against #3
Jelena Jankovic before losing 2-6 6-4 6-2. And all this was before her
18th birthday!

Wozniacki won her first WTA singles-title at Stockholm, beating #10
Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-1 in the semis, and #63 Vera Dushevina 6-0
6-2 in the final - in fact she dropped just 19 games in five matches
there!

Wozniacki thrashed #12 Daniela Hantuchová 6-1 6-3 to reach the third
round of the Olympics, where she lost 7-6 6-2 to eventual
Gold-medallist Elena Dementieva. Wozniacki's second WTA title quickly
followed at New Haven, beating #13 Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-0, #18 Alizé
Cornet 7-5 6-4, and #11 Anna Chakvetadze (previously 7:0 in finals)
3-6 6-4 6-1.

Wozniacki reached the fourth round of the US Open by beating #14
Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-4, and again took a set off #2 Jelena Jankovic
before folding 3-6 6-2 6-1.

Wozniacki then brushed off a couple of first-round losses to win her
third title at the Tokyo Japan Open, beating #33 Kaia Kanepi 6-2 3-6
6-1 in the final, and beat #12 Anna Chakvetadze again in the first
round of Moscow. She was runner-up to #5 Elena Dementieva at
Luxembourg (2-6 6-4 7-6), and won ITF Odense in the off-season,
beating #64 Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-1 in the final.

Although Wozniacki began 2009 with a surprising loss to #76 Elena
Vesnina at Auckland, she had a very impressive Sydney, thrashing #19
Dominika Cibulková 6-1 6-2 and #110 Melanie South 6-2 6-0. She then
had three match-points against Serena Williams before losing 6-7 6-3
7-6 in the quarter-finals.

I saw a few points of that match at www.sonyericssonwtatour.com. The
way Wozniacki stranded Williams with a pinpoint crosscourt forehand to
set up a down-the-line forehand winner suggests great things for
Wozniacki in 2009!

Wozniacki has been tipped to upset Ana Ivanovic [5] in the fourth
round here, and eventually to win Majors (perhaps even here), so it's
not looking too optimistic for Jelena in the third round!

But Jelena has already upset the odds in such a major way that I
wouldn't count her out completely from beating Wozniacki, who will be
the one with all the pressure on her, while Jelena will enjoy the
support of the Rod Laver Arena evening-crowd.


4.1 Articles
------------

Australian Open: Day 5 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2909
>>>
Rod Laver
(11) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - First meeting

It's no surprise Wozniacki and Dokic haven't played before,
considering the seven-year age-gap, and the fact Dokic has been out of
action for much of the young Dane's rise.

But after her superb three-set victory over Anna Chakvetadze on
Wednesday night - her first win over a top-twenty player in five years
- Dokic is looking like a teen-phenom who just happens to be in her
mid-twenties.

While not taking anything away from that result, it has to be said the
21-year-old Russian has seemed out of sorts for months; by contrast,
18-year-old Wozniacki goes from strength to strength, although it will
be interesting to see how she fares next time a big match gets close,
after she failed to convert four match-points against Serena Williams
in Sydney.

Only the most optimistic Dokic-devotee would believe she could pull
off another win under the lights, but the Australian couldn't ask for
a more relevant test as she pursues her comeback.
<<<

2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Round 3
Nick Bollettieri <nickstennispicks.com>
>>>
Jelena Dokic (AUS) vs. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) - Dokic got another
huge win in front of her home-fans, and now will look to continue that
streak against Wozniacki. The young, talented Dane is just outside the
top ten, and is ready to break through this year. The question here
is: Will Dokic have enough juice left after another big win?
<<<

2009 Australian Open: Day Five Preview
Aaress Lawless (www.onthebaseline.com)
>>>
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[11] v. Jelena Dokic (AUS)

As inspirational as Jelena Dokic's comeback has been, she will have to
play near-perfect tennis to get past Caroline Wozniacki. The young
Dane was recently voted On The Baseline's Newcomer of the Year for
2008: a distinction she heartily deserved after a stellar season.

It's tough to pick against Dokic after her first two comeback-wins in
Melbourne, but I just wonder how much emotional - and physical -
energy is left in her tank after those two tough victories. After all,
it has been a long time since Dokic played this many top players in a row.

Pick: Caroline Wozniacki in two sets.
<<<

Emotional Jelena Dokic turns back time (Courtney Walsh, The Australian)
>>>
A decade after announcing her arrival as a tennis-prodigy at Melbourne
Park, Jelena Dokic stands a win away from her finest Australian Open
performance after last night upsetting talented Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

Despite a second-set wobble and third-set injury scare, Dokic made the
third round of her home Major for only the second time with the 6-4
6-7 (7/4) 6-3 win over the 17th seed.

Dokic was just 15 when she recorded her best Australian Open
appearance, though she was thrashed by then world No.1 Martina Hingis
in that third-round encounter in 1999.

More than a generation has passed since, with her next opponent rising
Danish star Caroline Wozniacki - among the hottest players on the Tour
now - aged only eight at the time.

But asked how she felt about playing the world No.12, the message was
simple, given the personal enormity of last night's achievement.

"Honestly, right now I don't care," Dokic said, close to tears.

"No matter what happens, I hope to play well."

The three-set victory over Chakvetadze is important for several
reasons. From a tennis-perspective, it proves Dokic still has the game
to match it with the sport's elite, for Chakvetadze is a significant
talent who reached a career-high ranking of five in 2007: the year she
reached her maiden Major semi-final in the US.

By reaching the third round, Dokic will receive a significant
rankings-boost from her position of #187, which will further her
chances of gaining entry into the year's remaining Majors.

It will also boost her chances of landing sponsorships to ease the
financial burden.

Following Dokic's opening-round win over Austrian Tamira Paszek, she
was coy when asked about wearing Fila-clothing a fortnight after
appearing in Adidas-apparel in Brisbane, describing it as a "work in
progress".

The quality of the 25-year-old's strokeplay from the baseline, and her
ability to overcome problems in the second and third sets, should
further her cause when pushing for new deals.

Dokic proved early on that she had benefited from her three-set
opening-round win over Paszek - her first Major match in three years -
with her powerful groundstrokes finding their mark early.

But it was Chakvetadze who made the initial move, establishing an
advantage when breaking Dokic in the seventh game of the first set.

Dokic, who steadily improved her ranking on the ITF circuit last year
- after controversially missing out on a wild card into the 2008
Australian Open - showed she was ready for the occasion by breaking
immediately.

She continued that momentum to claim the first set, her groundstrokes
carrying the power and accuracy that once saw her labelled a
legitimate contender to win a Major.

While Chakvetadze is an élite talent, a weakness is her renowned
volatility, and it appeared this could hinder her chances of fighting
back.

Dokic was outstanding early in the second set, achieving her second
break to reach a 4-1 lead, but a lack of match-play at the upper
echelon told as she struggled to put her 21-year-old opponent away.

Twice the Australian moved to within two points of claiming the match
in straight sets, with only inches defying her on the second try, as
attempts at outright winners narrowly missed the line.

The lack of match-craft was pivotal with Dokic trailing at 3/4 in the
second set tiebreak. After opening up the court, the Australian
overplayed a simple forehand to gift the world No.18 the advantage she
needed to level the match.

Dokic refused to lament the missed opportunity, breaking immediately
in the third.

However, an Achilles' problem that caused Dokic to withdraw from an
event in Hobart last week seemed a concern as the former world No.4
led 2-0, with a trainer called to the court at the next change of ends.

But it proved little hindrance, with Dokic's court-coverage a feature
as she maintained the pressure on her younger opponent by successfully
chasing balls from one side to the other.

While Dokic squandered two match-points at 5-3, it was the Russian
that faltered, serving successive double faults to hand the Australian
a memorable victory.

"It was unbelievable," she said.

"No matter what happens from here, it is an amazing experience, and a
moment I will not forget for a long time.

"I really wanted to put in a good performance... and things started
going my way, and then I got nervous, but this crowd really pulled me
through."
<<<

Faith helps to resurrect doubting Dokic's career
Linda Pearce (The Age), Tuesday 20th January 2009
>>>
Jelena Dokic was 15 when she won her previous Australian Open match.
Before her defection, and return. Before becoming a victim of the most
disfunctional of tennis-families, of depression and of crippling
doubts. Yesterday, Dokic spoke of the roles played by her religion and
her boyfriend of six years in resurrecting a career she doubted could
ever flourish again.

"Sometimes you just try to believe; you have faith. God was my No.1
priority. I really turned to that," Dokic, now 25, said after her 6-2
3-6 6-4 defeat of Austria's world No.80 Tamira Paszek on Hisense
Arena. "Just a few people that were around in my life helped out.

"I don't know how I turned it around, because this time last year, I
was still trying. You know, I gave myself another six months, just
tried to hang in there. I'm trying to get a hold of it now and try not
to go back again, try not to get in that stage of my life. But I think
it's over. I think I dealt with everything. I'm really enjoying my
tennis."

The only way back from what was effectively three years away, she
said, was with small steps. First, the ITF circuit. Last month, the
Open's wildcard play-off. A quality two-tiebreak loss to Amélie
Mauresmo at Brisbane. Now this.

"To win today is absolutely amazing. People think, 'Oh, it's just the
first round of a Grand Slam [sic]'. But for me, it's a lot," said the
187th-ranked Dokic. "I dealt with so much off the court that this is a
joke to me now. Even though I still get nervous in matches like today,
I'm really enjoying to be here every day. I went through Hell and
back. This is hopefully a reward for me for everything I went through.
I will try my best. If it ends up to be top 50 or top 20 or top 10,
I'll be happy, as long as I can play for a few more years."

Dokic became tearful when describing what the victory meant to her:
the emotions of what she called "really a miracle for me", which
provided a second-round meeting with Russian 17th seed Anna
Chakvetadze. Not her best match, but one of her most satisfying.

Permanently estranged from her father Damir, Dokic is slowly
rebuilding her relationship with her mother Liliana. Her great regret
is that contact has only resumed in the past year with her little
brother Savo. "But, yeah, I still feel like I've lost them," she said,
paying tribute to her stoic boyfriend of six years: Tin Bikic.

"But it's not just that. I had so much to go through while my dad was
on the Tour. I was just so young, and just had no real idea what was
going on. But it was real difficult to take all that, what was going
on off the court, all the outbursts. It was not easy to play with
that. I played with a huge pressure on my shoulders. I kind of just
cracked by the time I was 19."
<<<

Damir Dokic hoping to reconcile with daughter Jelena
By Darren Walton (Fox Sports / AAP)
>>>
Damir Dokic says he hasn't given up on reconciling with estranged
daughter Jelena, and even believes he may one day coach Australia's
tennis heroine again.

Speaking from his home in Belgrade, Dokic tonight told AAP he would
consider contacting Jelena after the Australian Open, where the former
world No.4 has reached the third round for the first time.

Damir confirmed his relationship with Jelena had soured in the past
few years since she left the family-home in the Serbian capital to
live in Zagreb with her boyfriend Tin Bikic and her coach: Bikic's
brother Borna.

But he said he spoke to Jelena as recently as "about a month ago", and
claimed that the 25-year-old told him that reconciliation was possible.

"Everything is possible," Damir said.

"I can't tell you for sure, but why not?"

Damir said he had not watched his daughter's second-round upset win
over Russian seed Anna Chakvetadze, but had heard the result and was
feeling proud.

"Of course I'm proud," he said.

Damir hasn't been back to Australia since taking Jelena and the rest
of the family back to Serbia after believing the 2001 Open draw had
been rigged to pit his daughter against defending champion Lindsay
Davenport.

But he also refuses to rule out a return.

"Yeah maybe. Of course, why not? I like Australia," said tennis's most
controversial father, who lived in Sydney for seven years, during
which Jelena rose to be the world's No.1 junior player.

Despite saying, "I don't watch tennis", Damir continues to dream of
building a complex in Serbia and coaching.

"My plan is to make one tennis-club and start coaching again," he said.

"But I don't have a place for it in Belgrade."

Belgrade-authorities and the sport's national federation have already
blocked one proposal from Damir to build such a centre in the capital
city.

In the meantime, he will continue doing what he does.

"I have a small business. I make b*****: the best thing of all," Damir
said proudly.

"It's better than w*****, believe me."

But any chances of reconciliation - let alone an unlikely
coaching-reunion - appear to be resting solely in the hands of Jelena,
who says she is extremely happy with her coaching-arrangement.

"Sometimes you need a couple of people that you can trust.

"There's not too many of those around," she told the Seven Network on
Thursday night.

The pointed remark seemed directed towards her overbearing father, and
came just three days after the tennis-star opened up to journalists to
reveal she still feels like she has "lost" her entire family.

"I don't talk to my father. I haven't for years. I talk to my mum.
We're mending that relationship," she said.

"As soon as I left home, my relationship went downhill with my dad.

"It went downhill with my whole family."
<<<

-----------------------------------------------------------------
5. Who'll win the Australian Open now that Venus Williams is out?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

How about an unbelievable miracle by a member of my Eternal Fanship?
Jelena Dokic and Lucie Šafárová have already exceeded expectations
here, beating Anna Chakvetadze [17] and Sybille Bammer [24],
respectively; they are supremely talented, have nothing to lose, and
you should never underestimate the power of a comeback!

----------------------------------
6. Mixed Doubles: First-round draw
----------------------------------

* Jelena Dokic [EF]/Paul Hanley v Patty Schnyder/Wesley Moodie

Full draw:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/xd/

---------------------------
7. Order of play for Friday
---------------------------

Rod Laver Arena: Day-session (start 11:00 AEDT = 00:00 GMT)
WS 3r: DINARA SAFINA [3] v KAIA KANEPI [25]
MS 3r: Amer Delic v NOVAK ĐOKOVIC [3]
WS 3r: JELENA JANKOVIC [1] v AI SUGIYAMA [26]
|
Rod Laver Arena: Evening-session (start 19:30 AEDT = 08:30 GMT)
WS 3r: Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11]
MS 3r: MARAT SAFIN [26] v ROGER FEDERER [2]

If any man can show any just cause why Jelena Dokic v Caroline
Wozniacki may not be televised by the BBC tomorrow, let him speak now
or forever hold his peace!

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos / Videos
2. First-round review: Dokic v Paszek
3. Second-round draw
4. Second-round preview
5. Order of play for Wednesday

------------------
1. Photos / Videos
------------------
1.1 Photos
----------

Jelena Dokic:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/related/wta040344.html

Various players including Jelena:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7836743.stm


1.2 Videos
----------

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/multimedia/default_video.asp
- Day 1 Highlights: Jelena Dokic breaking down in her press-conference

-------------------------------------
2. First-round review: Dokic v Paszek (Monday 19th January 2009)
-------------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. Tamira Paszek, 6-2 3-6 6-4

This match took place in the Australian mid-afternoon, while I was
sleeping in England, so it was very pleasant to wake up and see that
Jelena had won a main-draw singles-match at the Australian Open for
the first time since 1999!

That seems unbelievable, but she suffered first-round exits in 2000,
2001 (to Lindsay Davenport) and 2006, boycotted the Australian Open in
2002-2005, and was too low-ranked to get into the main draw in 2007-2008.


2.1 Statistics
--------------

The match took 1h48m (first set 29m, second set 39m, third set 40m).

Both girls had negative W:UE ratios: Jelena 35:49 (12:12 in the first
set, then 23:37 for the next two combined), Paszek 12:28. In other
words, Jelena was tending to dominate with her own winners and errors,
giving Paszek few chances to take the initiative (although she did
have a positive W:UE of 5:4 for the second set).

Jelena got 67% of her first serves in, winning 72% of the points when
she did so, and 40% on second serve. These percentages didn't vary
tremendously from set to set.

The corresponding percentages for Paszek were 57%, 69% and 47%, after
she pulled them up from (39%, 67%, 29%) in the first set.

Jelena served 10 aces (6 in the second set) and 9 double faults (5 in
the first set), Paszek no aces and 7 double faults.

Jelena broke 5 times from 9 BPs (two breaks in the first set, three in
the third), while Paszek was very wasteful, converting only 4 of 15
BPs (just one of 7 in the third set).

In a very baseline-oriented encounter, Jelena won 3 of 8 points at the
net (mostly in the third set: 2 of 5), Paszek 2 of 2.

In points, Jelena won 88-82 (first set 28-20, second set 25-30, third
set 35-32).


2.2 Jelena's first-round press-conference
-----------------------------------------

Source: www.australianopen.com

Q. How did you feel serving out the match today? Had a lot of close
first-round matches.

JELENA DOKIC: That was a while ago. But having that first match of the
year in Brisbane really helped. Had some chances there, which I
missed. I think probably would have happened today if I didn't have
that much under my belt.

It was good to be in that position. You know, I kind of had a match
where I was winning in Brisbane and lost it. So it was good to have
that one.

I played a pretty comfortable game at 5-4. I served well, but I was tight.

Q. How satisfying is that, to get a win in a Grand Slam? [sic] Do you
feel the pressure is off your shoulders?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't think there was any pressure on me, because
she's 70 in the world. She was the clear favourite in this match
still, just like Amélie [Mauresmo] was in Brisbane.

I knew I had a chance to beat her if I played well. I practised with
her a couple of times. I knew if I can hang in there, not make too
much errors, kind of hang in the match, I knew I could have a shot.

After I won the first set, I really got nervous. But it's great. This
is huge for me. You know, after pretty much a three-year absence, to
start the year with a win at a Grand Slam [sic] is really huge for me.

I didn't really have any goals or expectations for myself for the
first three or four months of the year. I just wanted to work really
hard and see what I can do.

Q. Compared to the Mauresmo-match, quality-wise do you think you were
better, worse?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I think I played much better against Amélie. That
was a solid match for me. I didn't get nervous at all. Even though I
had those chances, I missed them. She played some good points.

Today I was really, really nervous. I don't know if I ever had my
right hand that tight, you know. Pretty much cramped up, especially in
the third set.

But you can't help the nerves sometimes. It was a pretty big court for
me to play on straight up. Yeah, it was a little bit of everything.
I'm glad that I got through. I really played the big points well,
which I'm really proud of myself. I really played the third set well.

You know, she had some chances, and I did as well. I won a couple of
those close games.

Q. Do you feel like you need to take the next step? There's Casey
[Dell'Acqua] and Sam [Stosur] left. Do you feel like you need to take
another step and get the No.1 spot in Australian women's tennis back?

JELENA DOKIC: I mean, we're all out here competing. I think Sam's a
great player. She really has the potential to be a top-twenty player.
She really has the big shots.

Casey I don't know so well. I haven't watched her play that much. She
had a pretty good year last year.

I'm not out here to compete against them. I'm out here to do as best
as I can and see how far I can do, then try to challenge the best in
the world.

It would be great to be the No.1 Australian, of course. But, you know,
at this stage this is not my goal. I still have a long way to go. I'm
just trying to work hard every day, every practice-session, every
gym-session. For me, this is what I need to do right now.

Q. You had a lot of support out there. Do you actually hear the crowd
at all, or do you block it out to stay focused?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I did. It was good. Especially after I lost the
second set, I got up in the third, they really got behind me, which
was great. I don't know when was the last time that the crowd was
really like that. I think it was even better than in Brisbane.

It was a good feeling. At 5-4 going to serve, at 30-All, they were
really behind me. So it was great to have that.

Q. You have a new clothing-sponsor?

JELENA DOKIC: We're working on it. <smiling>

Q. Can you tell us about how difficult it was to come back, because
you've been for such a long time trying to play competitively.

JELENA DOKIC: I was trying, but it was not really there. I had other
issues going on in my life. I think that was obvious. I battled severe
depression for about two years. Didn't play for months at a time. Was
really seriously thinking about not playing.

You know, tennis is not the most important thing in the world, but
it's something that I love. I was very disappointed when I couldn't
play well. It was a tough time in my life. I had a lot to go through,
a lot of family-issues.

It's really a miracle for me. It's really emotional to win today. What
I had to go through, it's really great to have this win. I don't think
a lot of people know what it means to me. <tearing up> It's great to
be here at a Grand Slam [sic].

Q. What kept you going?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't know. It was tough at times. But, you know,
sometimes you just try to believe; you have faith. God was my No.1
priority. I really turned to that. Just a few people that were around
in my life helped out, so...

Yeah, I don't know how I turned it around, because this time last
year, I was still trying. You know, I gave myself another six months,
just tried to hang in there. You know, I'm trying to get ahold of it
now and try not to go back again, try not to get in that stage of my life.

But I think it's over. I think I dealt with everything. You know, I'm
really enjoying my tennis. It doesn't really have anything to do with
ranking, money or anything. I just really love the game.

I think if I didn't like it so much, I don't think I would have played
again.

Q. How are you feeling physically? You had a bit of an injury coming in.

JELENA DOKIC: It was not as serious as it seemed at first. It was more
precaution, because a Grand Slam [sic] is a priority always. But it's
good. It's no problems today. Also, fitness-wise I feel pretty good.

Q. What's the longest you went without touching a racquet?

JELENA DOKIC: About seven or eight months. That was in 2007. Yeah, I
was really struggling with everything: with my weight, with my mental
state, with everything.

Q. Did you ever think then [that] you would be in this position again?

JELENA DOKIC: No. That's why I said I wanted to take small steps.
Satellites was the first goal. I did well last year. Didn't play a
full year, but I did well.

For me to even play, I think I played a good match against Amélie in
Brisbane. To win today is absolutely amazing. People think, "Oh, it's
just the first round of a Grand Slam [sic]." But for me, it's a lot.

I pretty much went three years without playing. I heard on the men's
side, like Hewitt and Baghdatis had injuries and they were off for
four months. For me, I was laughing at that because I was out for
three years. People don't know how hard it is to get back, to play in
matches.

It's really difficult, but I think I've picked it up pretty quickly -
even surprised myself.

Q. After you hadn't picked up a racquet for so many months in 2007,
was there one thing that made you pick it up and start again?

JELENA DOKIC: No. I mean, I don't know. Just something clicked
overnight. Like I said, I was dealing with so much stuff. I pretty
much lost my family. Had no one there. Was really struggling. You
know, people sometimes think you go off, you go on a holiday, you
start partying and stuff like that. But it was not what happened with
me. I wish it was. But I had really serious stuff to deal with.

I said to myself at the end of 2007, "I will really try to get back in
shape and give it one more shot." I played pretty well in Hobart,
Australian Open last year. Kind of went step by step. Yeah, if I
didn't have a little bit of a comeback in 2008, I wouldn't have played
any more.

I was trying. I really wanted to give it one last shot. It was just a
matter of whether I would be mentally strong enough again to play at
this level and to compete, so...

Q. Do you have any expectations for the future?

JELENA DOKIC: Not at all. Like I said, I dealt with so much off the
court that this is a joke to me now. Even though I still get nervous
in matches like today, really this is like I'm really enjoying to be
here every day. I went through Hell and back. This is hopefully a
reward for me for everything I went through.

I will try my best. If it ends up to be top 50 or top 20 or top 10,
I'll be happy, as long as I can play for a few more years.

Q. Have you mended that relationship with your family?

JELENA DOKIC: No. I don't talk to my father.

Q. You don't talk to him?

JELENA DOKIC: No. I haven't for years. I talk to my mom. We're mending
that relationship. As soon as I left home, my relationship, you know,
went down the hill with my dad. It went down the hill with my whole
family.

The biggest thing I regret is my brother, who is eight years younger
than me. I didn't have contact with him for years until the last 12
months. That was the hardest thing to deal with.

But, yeah, I still feel like I've lost them. I will try my best, you
know, to do what I can to patch up my things with my brother and my
mom. I'm trying to do that. It will be difficult.

But it's not just that. I had so much to go through while my dad was
on the Tour. I was just so young, and just had no real idea what was
going on. But it was real difficult to take all that, what was going
on off the court, all the outbursts. It was not easy to play with
that. I played with a huge pressure on my shoulders. I kind of just
cracked by the time I was 19 already.

Q. Away from your family and your personal drive to get back on the
court, who has been the biggest influence for you?

JELENA DOKIC: I can really say only one person for about three or four
years. Like I said, I'm trying to mend the relationship with my
brother and my mom. But my boyfriend was there. We've been together
for six years. He was there with me.

So it was probably even tougher for him at times than it was for me
because he had to watch me go through all that. It was a constant
battle every day, just how I will be, whether I will be able to get
out of bed. He was there the whole time no matter what.

Yeah, that was probably the person that I have to thank the most for
being here. A lot of it goes to him, so... [end of interview]


2.3 Articles
------------

Dokic a winner again at Melbourne Park
By Matthew Trollope (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has finally rejoined the winners' circle at Melbourne
Park, moving through to the second round for the first time in 10
years by defeating Austrian Tamira Paszek in three sets: 6-2 3-6 6-4.

The Australian last won her first round match in 1999, reaching the
third round as a 15-year-old wildcard.

Today on Hisense Arena, she held her nerve when serving for the match
to record a hard-fought victory.

Dokic began in scintillating fashion, showcasing her ball-striking
ability in easily claiming the first set.

Games went on serve in the second set until Paszek, currently ranked
world No.80, broke serve to lead 4-3. From there, Dokic made a number
of errors, and the Austrian broke again to take the match into a third
set.

Dokic's game continued to be littered with errors as she quickly went
down 0-1.

Impressively, she managed to tighten up her game, finding the court
with her stinging drives and vastly-improved serve, and jumping to a
4-1 lead.

Errors then crept back into Dokic's game and Paszek recovered a break,
but the Australian demonstrated a cool head in producing a delicate
dropshot followed by a powerful serve + forehand combination to go up 5-3.

After Paszek held, Dokic came out to serve for the match, and
courageously went for her shots, whipping a crosscourt forehand winner
on her second match-point to progress.

Quick facts:
* Dokic hit 10 aces to Paszek's none.
* Dokic struck 35 winners, compared to just 12 from the Austrian.
* The Australian committed 49 unforced errors to Paszek's 28.
* Paszek was wasteful on break-points, converting only four of 15.
<<<

Jankovic & Ivanovic make progress (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7836741.stm
>>>
Jelena Dokic, who had not reached the second round of a Major event
since 2003, did just that with a 6-2 3-6 6-4 win against Tamira Paszek.

The 25-year-old, now back playing under the Australian flag, is hoping
to launch a comeback after seeing her ranking slide to #187.

"I was so nervous today - it was a big match for me," she said.

"I wasn't the favourite, but I knew I had a chance. The crowd helped
me - it's been a while, but it's great to be back."
<<<

Dokic Delivers on Day 1
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2895
>>>
Dokic makes the cut

A pair of indirect entrants into the main draw - namely Kimiko Date
Krumm and Jelena Dokic, who both made it as high as No.4 in the world
in years past - drew large crowds on Day 1 as well.

Dokic, who won an Australian Open wildcard play-off during the
off-season to gain entry, won a see-saw battle with Tamira Paszek: 6-2
3-6 6-4. It was her first Major main-draw win since the 2003 season,
having fallen first round in all four of her Majors played since then.
She was elated after the win.

"Having that first match of the year in Brisbane really helped," Dokic
said. "I had some chances there, which I missed. That probably would
have happened today if I didn't have that much under my belt. And like
Amélie [Mauresmo] was in Brisbane, Tamira was the clear favourite
today, so I didn't have any pressure on me. I knew I had a chance to
beat her if I played well. This is huge for me. After a three-year
absence, starting the year with a win at a Grand Slam [sic] is really
huge for me."
<<<

Dokic savours emotional win
By Matthew Trollope (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
An emotional Jelena Dokic has revealed her battle with depression, a
feud with her family, and how she spent several months without
touching a racquet in the years preceding her appearance at Australian
Open 2009.

Following her three-set win over Austrian Tamira Paszek on Hisense
Arena late this afternoon, Dokic tearfully admitted that she seriously
contemplated giving up the sport during her years away from the game.

"Tennis is not the most important thing in the world, but it's
something that I love. I was very disappointed when I couldn't play
well," she said.

"It was a tough time in my life. I had a lot to go through, a lot of
family-issues.

"It's really a miracle for me [to be back playing and winning]. It's
really emotional to win today. What I had to go through, it's really
great to have this win. I don't think a lot of people know what this
means to me."

Dokic said she had not spoken to her father Damir for a number of years.

She described his outbursts during her earlier playing-career as
"difficult to take", forcing her to play with enormous pressure on her
shoulders that caused her to "crack" during her late teens.

She said she was only now starting to mend her relationship with her
mother and brother.

"The biggest thing I regret is [not having a relationship with] my
brother... I didn't have contact with him for years until the last 12
months. That was the hardest thing to deal with," she said.

"I still feel like I've lost them [her family]. I will try my best to
do what I can to patch things up with my brother and my mum. I'm
trying to do that. It will be difficult."

The 25-year-old Australian said that a new faith in God, as well as
the support of her boyfriend – whom she has been with for six years –
helped her find her way back onto the tennis-court.

"He [her boyfriend] is probably the person I have to thank the most
for being here," Dokic said.

Her performance today was her best in a decade at Melbourne Park, when
in 1999 she reached the third round as a wild-card entrant into the
main draw.

Since then, Dokic has experienced a tumultuous relationship with her
homeland Major, suffering heartbreaking defeats, and becoming involved
in spats with officials over the years in which she represented both
Australia and Yugoslavia.

The crowd-darling during her maiden-run through the draw in 1999, the
next year was an unhappy one for Dokic, losing to unheralded Hungarian
Rita Kuti Kis: a player she expected to beat.

The 2001 tournament was even sourer as she switched to representing
Yugoslavia, angry with having drawn American second seed Lindsay
Davenport in the opening round.

Dokic did not reappear in Melbourne until 2006, by which time she was
representing Australia again. She lost in the first round in traumatic
circumstances, reaching match-point against Frenchwoman Virginie
Razzano and striking what she thought was a forehand winner, which was
instead called long. From there, she suffered a collapse, losing 6-1
in the third set.

She did not play in 2007, and failed to qualify in 2008.

Dokic said that her past experiences in the Open had not played on her
mind when taking to the court against Paszek.

"That was a while ago," she said.

"Having that first match of the year in Brisbane [against Amélie
Mauresmo] really helped. [I] had some chances there, which I missed. I
think [the same thing] probably would have happened today if I didn't
have that match under my belt."

Dokic repeatedly apologised for her comments made at the 2008 Open,
mended her relationship with Tennis Australia, and won the December
wild-card play-off, deservingly taking her place in the 2009 main draw.

She performed strongly, all the while having to battle through nervous
tension. Dokic said she was extremely pleased to have clinched her
opening match.

"After I won the first set, I got really nervous. But it's great. This
is huge for me. You know, after pretty much a three-year absence, to
start the year with a win at a Grand Slam [sic] is really huge for
me," she said.

"I didn't really have any goals or expectations for myself for the
first three or four months of the year. I just wanted to work really
hard and see what I could do."

Dokic will next face Russian 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze.
<<<

Dokic pours out her heart after winning in Melbourne (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Jelena Dokic struggled to hold back her emotions at the Australian
Open on Monday as she finally revealed the extent of the pain and
torment she has endured since breaking up with her own family.

Dokic was all smiles after she registered her first win at Melbourne
Park in a decade by beating Austria's Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4, but
broke down at her post-match news-conference as she recounted her
family-problems.

"I went through Hell and back," she said, her voice cracking as tears
welled in her eyes.

"I pretty much lost my family. I had no-one there. I was really
struggling.

"I battled severe depression for about two years. I didn't play for
months at a time. I was really seriously thinking about not playing.
It was a tough time in my life."

Dokic said she still does not speak with her father, but is now trying
to mend her relationship with her mother and brother.

"As soon as I left home, my relationship went down the hill with my
dad. It went down the hill with my whole family," said the
25-year-old, adding she had put on weight and did not even pick up a
racket for seven months.

"The biggest thing I regret is my brother, who's eight years younger
than me. I didn't have contact with him for years until the last 12
months. That was the hardest thing to deal with.

"But I still feel like I've lost them. I'll try my best to do what I
can to patch up my things with my brother and my mom."

Dokic was once regarded as one of the brightest prospects in women's
tennis when she reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2000 and a
world-ranking of #4, but her early success was overshadowed by events
off the court.

In 1999, her father was cited for drunk and disorderly conduct after
an incident at a tournament in England, where he lay down in the
middle of the road after being ejected from the event.

SALMON-OUTBURST

The following year, he was thrown out of Wimbledon after he smashed a
journalist's mobile phone, and was then evicted from the US Open
following an outburst over the price of salmon in a restaurant.

In 2001, he accused Australian Open organisers of rigging the draw to
ensure his daughter lost in the first round, then ordered his family
to leave Australia and move back to Serbia.

Two years later, Jelena had had enough, and walked out to live by
herself. She initially lived in Europe but then returned to Australia,
appealing for people to forgive her as she had never wanted to leave
in the first place.

"I had so much to go through while my dad was on the Tour," she said.
"I was just so young, and just had no real idea what was going on.

"It was really difficult to take all that, what was going on off the
court, all the outbursts.

"I played with a huge pressure on my shoulders... I kind of just
cracked by the time I was 19."

Dokic tried to resurrect her tennis-career, but was unable to find the
motivation. She considered quitting in 2007 before deciding to make
one last attempt to get back in shape and form.

"Tennis is not the most important thing in the world, but it's
something that I love," she said.

"It's really a miracle for me, and it's really emotional to win today.
I don't know how I turned it around, because this time last year, I
was still trying. I gave myself another six months.

"I'm really enjoying my tennis. It doesn't really have anything to do
with ranking, money or anything. I just really love the game. I think
if I didn't like it so much, I don't think I would have played again."
<<<

Aussie tennis-player Dokic says she "cracked" at 19 (AFP)
>>>
Australia's Jelena Dokic said on Monday that she "cracked" when she
was 19 and at the top of her game, blaming her downfall largely to the
controversies caused by her now estranged father Damir.

The former world number-four beat Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4
on Monday to reach the second round of the year's first Major for the
first time since 1999.

Serbian-born but Australian-raised, Dokic, 25, was once one of the
brightest stars on the women's tour, winning five titles, and reaching
the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2000 as a 17-year-old.

But she dropped out after her career went into a downward spiral
following a series of incidents involving her father.

As well as alleging that the Australian Open draw was rigged, he was
ejected from the US Open in 2000 for abusing staff about the price of
a salmon-lunch.

He also made headlines for smashing a journalist's phone at Wimbledon
the same year, and at one point threatened to kidnap her.

An older and more reflective Dokic faced the media after her win over
Paszek, and confided that she had "lost" her family and had suffered
from depression.

"I was trying, but it was not really there," she said about
half-hearted attempts to resurrect her career over the past four years.

"I had other issues going on in my life. I think that was obvious.
I battled severe depression for about two years - didn't play for
months at a time."

Dokic said that for seven months in 2007, she didn't pick up a
racquet, and her boyfriend wasn't sure some days whether she would
even get out of bed.

"I was dealing with so much stuff - I pretty much lost my family," she
said. "I had no one there; I was really struggling.

"You know, people sometimes think you go off, you go on a holiday, you
start partying and stuff like that.

"But it was not what happened with me. I wish it was [sic], but I had
really serious stuff to deal with."

She said she was trying to mend her relationship with her mother and
brother, but said there was no contact at all with her father.

"I talk to my mom - we're mending that relationship," she said.

"As soon as I left home, my relationship went down the hill with my
dad. It went down the hill with my whole family.

"The biggest thing I regret is my brother, who is eight years younger
than me.

"I didn't have contact with him for years until the last 12 months.
That was the hardest thing to deal with.

"But, yeah, I still feel like I've lost them. I will try my best to do
what I can to patch up my things with my brother and my mom. I'm
trying to do that... it will be difficult."

She said she hadn't been able to cope with the pressure of life on the
Tour.

"I had so much to go through while my dad was on the Tour. I was just
so young, and just had no real idea what was going on.

"But it was real difficult [sic] to take all that, what was going on
off the court, all the outbursts. It was not easy to play with that.

"I played with a huge pressure on my shoulders. I kind of just cracked
by the time I was 19 already."

Dokic was born in Serbia, but moved to Australia when she was 11.

She is making what she acknowledges is her final attempt to make a
comeback to the sport.

Now ranked #187 in the world, she showed some glimpses of her past
form when she pushed Amélie Mauresmo in the WTA tournament in Brisbane
two weeks ago.
<<<

Victorious Dokic forging ahead in tennis-career (AP)
>>>
Being the daughter of one of the most volatile tennis-fathers was
never going to be easy for Jelena Dokic.

Just how difficult became apparent after her first-round Australian
Open win Monday - years after the antics of her father, Damir, last
hit the headlines.

"It was real difficult [sic] to take all that, what was going on off
the court, all the outbursts," Dokic said. "I played with huge
pressure on my shoulders. I kind of just cracked by the time I was 19."

The now 25-year-old Dokic revealed that she suffered from depression
for two years, was estranged from all of her family - including her
mother and younger brother - and didn't pick up a racket for seven or
eight months in 2007, while she contemplated whether she could ever
return to tennis.

"I had so much to go through while my dad was on the Tour; I was just
so young, and just had no real idea what was going on," Dokic said
after her 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over Tamira Paszek of Austria: her first
appearance in the main draw of a Major in three years.

In a sport that regularly spawns overbearing parents, Damir Dokic
stood out from the rest.

He was ejected from a 1999 tournament in Birmingham, England, for
calling club-members "Nazis who supported the bombing of Yugoslavia",
and was subsequently arrested for lying down on a road.

The next year, he fought with a television-crew at the Australian
Open, and smashed a journalist's mobile phone at Wimbledon.

He was thrown out of the US Open after an argument over the price of
fish, and was barred by the Women's Tennis Association from attending
tournaments for six months. And he implied that the Australian Open
draw in 2001 was rigged against his daughter.

Damir and Jelena Dokic ended their coach-player relationship in 2003
when he called for her to undergo psychiatric and drug-testing after
she started dating a Brazilian race-driver.

Ultimately, it took a huge toll on Jelena.

"I was trying, but... not really there," Dokic said on Monday. "I had
other issues going on in my life - I think that was obvious. I battled
severe depression for about two years, didn't play for months at a
time. It was a tough time in my life."

It all started off so rosy. She was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in
2000, losing in straight sets to Lindsay Davenport, but made bigger
headlines the previous year when, as a 16-year-old qualifier, she beat
No.1 Martina Hingis in the first round.

Dokic, who has five career singles-titles, saw her ranking plummet
from a high of No.4 in 2002 to No.617 in 2006.

Last year, she slowly began a comeback, winning three ITF titles and
improving to No.187.

Dokic moved to Australia from Europe with her family in 1994, but
renounced the country in 2001, and took up citizenship in her native
Serbia. She decided to play again for Australia in 2006.

In December, she won a wild-card tournament for Australian players to
gain a spot in the Open.

There were plenty of anxious moments when she took the court against
Paszek at a 10,000-seat arena on Monday at Melbourne Park.

"It was a pretty big court for me to play on straight up," Dokic said.
"I really played the big points well, which I'm really proud of.

"It's really a miracle for me - really emotional to win. What I had to
go through, it's really great to have this win. I don't think a lot of
people know what it means to me..."

Her voice trails off, and tears well in her eyes. When she composes
herself, she says that last year at this time, she gave herself six
months to take one last crack at the game she loved.

"Just something clicked overnight," Dokic said. "I pretty much lost my
family, had no one there; I was really struggling.

"People sometimes think you go off, you go on a holiday, you start
partying and stuff like that. But it was not what happened with me.
I wish it was [sic]."

She started her comeback by just trying to get into condition.

"I said to myself at the end of 2007: I will really try to get back in
shape and give it one more shot," she said. "It was just a matter of
whether I would be mentally strong enough again to play at this level
and to compete."

While her tennis has improved, her family-relationship is still tenuous.

"I don't talk to my father - I haven't for years," Dokic said. "I talk
to my mom [Liliana]. We're mending that relationship.

"The biggest thing I regret is my brother [Savo], who is eight years
younger than me. I didn't have contact with him for years until the
last 12 months. That was the hardest thing to deal with. But I still
feel like I've lost them."

She received emotional support from her boyfriend of five years: Tin
Bikic.

"It was probably even tougher for him at times than it was for me,
because he had to watch me go through all that," Dokic said.

She's optimistic for the future.

"Even though I still get nervous in matches like today, I'm really
enjoying to be here every day," she said. "I went through Hell and
back. This is hopefully a reward for me for everything I went through."
<<<

Jelena Dokic proves ladies can bounce back
Barry Flatman: Tennis Correspondent of the Sunday Times
>>>
In this enlightened and politically correct age of tennis, everything
is supposedly equal. At this year's Australian Open, the women will
not only earn the same as the men; the ladies' final will also be
given prime-time evening-status, albeit 24 hours earlier. However,
there is distinct evidence to suggest it is easier to make a comeback
in the female game.

Martina Navrátilová, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis
and Lindsay Davenport make a quintet of champions and former world
No.1s who stepped away from the game, only to change their mind and
give it another go.

It is going a little too far to suggest Jelena Dokic and Kimiko Date
Krumm could soon be added to that list of successful
second-time-arounders. Yet, although one was successful and the other
beaten on the opening day of 2009's first Major event, both proved the
possibilities of still being extremely competitive despite several
years out of the spotlight.

Dokic and Date Krumm could not have more different stories; one
tragic, the other almost romantic. The first is a tale of pain and
clinical depression. The second focuses on finding out there are other
things to life apart from the tennis-court, and then realising there
was still a competitive flame burning in her core.

The adolescent troubles of Dokic have been documented over the years,
and the majority of her issues focused on her bombastic father Damir.

She has not spoken to him in years, but has made several attempts at
reclaiming her position of almost a decade ago, when she reached the
Wimbledon semi-final and achieved a world-ranking of No.4.

She sees 2009 as her last opportunity to make a comeback. "I think if
I do come back, it will be this year," she said. "I don't think I'll
push it any further than that if I don't."

Australian support was obvious for the girl who has been pulled
between her adopted country and Serbia. Her popularity helped push her
to a 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over 70th-ranked Tamira Paszek, and tears flowed
afterwards as Dokic described the anguish she had suffered over the years.

She hopes the hard times are over. "I pretty much went three years
without playing," she said. "I heard on the men's side, players like
[Lleyton] Hewitt and [Marcos] Baghdatis had injuries and they were off
for four months. For me, I was laughing at that because I was out for
three years. People don't know how hard it is to get back."

The delight for both Dokic and Date Krumm is that both have the
ability to recapture former glories. Women tennis-players are unique
in that way.
<<<

--------------------
3. Second-round draw
--------------------
3.1 Top half
------------

* Kirsten Flipkens v JELENA JANKOVIC [1] (komaan Kirsten!)
* Nathalie Dechy v AI SUGIYAMA [26] (allez Nathalie!)
* Lucie Šafárová [EF] v Marina Erakovic (my loyalty is to LUCIE)
* Tsvetana Pironkova [DF] v MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] (my Reason says
Marion, but my Passion says Tsvetana)

* Sania Mirza [DF] v NADIA PETROVA [10] (go Sania!)
* Karin Knapp v Galina Voskoboeva
* Monica Niculescu [S] v Sara Errani (hai Monica!)
* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v Edina Gallovits (DAVAI VERA!!)

* Ekaterina Makarova v DINARA SAFINA [3]
* Patricia Mayr v KAIA KANEPI [25]
* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] v Mathilde Johansson (my loyalty is to
DANIELA)
* ALIZÉ CORNET [15] v Andrea Petkovic (allez Alizé!)

* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11] v Virginia Ruano Pascual (my loyalty is to
Caroline)
* Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v ANNA CHAKVETADZE [17,EF] (having to lose one
of them so early is like a dagger in my heart)
* ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29] v Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro
* ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF] v Alberta Brianti [Q] (ajde Ana!)


3.2 Bottom half
---------------

* VENUS WILLIAMS [6] v Carla Suárez Navarro
* María José Martínez Sánchez v Akgul Amanmuradova
* ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [21] v Julie Coin
* FLAVIA PENNETTA [12,DF] v Jessica Moore [WC] (my loyalty is to Flavia)

* PATTY SCHNYDER [14] v Virginie Razzano
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [18] v Chan,Yung-Jan (podme Domi!)
* Sabine Lisicki v Samantha Stosur (komm jetzt Sabine!)
* Iveta Benešová v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] (pojdme Iveta!)

* Tatjana Malek v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8] (komm jetzt Tatjana!)
* ALYONA BONDARENKO [31] v Séverine Brémond (my loyalty is to Alyona -
slightly)
* ZHENG,JIE [22] v Melinda Czink (jia you Jie!)
* Kateryna Bondarenko v Lourdes Domínguez Lino (davai Kateryna!)

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [13] v Tathiana Garbin (davai Victoria!)
* Elena Baltacha [Q] v AMÉLIE MAURESMO [20] (go Elena!)
* Peng,Shuai [S] v Sesil Karatantcheva [Q] (jia you Shuai!)
* Gisela Dulko [DF] v SERENA WILLIAMS [2] (Ąvamos Gisela!)

-----------------------
4. Second-round preview
-----------------------

Jelena Dokic v Anna Chakvetadze is a mouthwatering match, although
having to lose one of them in the second round feels like a dagger in
my heart! But not as agonising as the BBC's plans to snub them even
though they will be playing on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session!

Ten years ago, Jelena looked like a world #1 in the making. She
thrashed Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 at Wimbledon 1999, Venus Williams
6-1 6-2 at Rome 2000, won five WTA singles-titles and reached a
career-high ranking of #4. But then her well-documented
family-problems caught up with her, and she fell off the tennis-radar,
battling depression and injuries.

2008 was a something of an encouraging turnaround for Jelena, as she
compiled a 35:10 win/loss record mainly on the ITF circuit, winning
three ITF singles-titles, working her way back to her current ranking
of #187. She gained her place at the Australian Open by winning the
wild-card play-off tournament in December.

Jelena's 7-6 7-6 loss to Amélie Mauresmo at Brisbane was encouraging,
as she hadn't played someone ranked as high as #23 for years. Less
encouraging is that she pulled out of Hobart-qualifying after
spraining her right Achilles' tendon while practising. "The Australian
Open is still 10 days away, so I still have some time, which is good,
and I should be all right," she said.

Jelena beat Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the first round, which
suggests that her Achilles' tendon has healed, since she was able to
come through such a tough match.

Anna, like Jelena, is one of the most flairsomely talented players in
the game - not to mention ultracute! Anna broke through by winning the
prestigious Tier I Kremlin Cup at Moscow in October 2006, and followed
up with a very consistent 2007, winning four WTA singles-titles and
reaching three Major quarter-finals - including her run to the US Open
2007 semi-finals.

Anna slumped from #6 to #18 in 2008 following a traumatic ordeal in
December 2007 in which she was tied up by burglars who broke into her
house, although she did manage to win WTA Paris and reach the New
Haven final. But her win/loss record for 2008 was only 28:23.

Anna beat Sania Mirza 6-4 6-4 as Team Russia reached the final of the
Hong Kong exhibition, and her 7-6 6-3 loss to Venus Williams was
encouraging, considering that Williams thrashed #1 Jelena Jankovic and
#7 Vera Zvonarëva both 6-2 6-2 in that tournament!

Less encouraging was Anna's 3-6 6-4 6-4 loss to Gisela Dulko in
another rubber of the Hong Kong final, and then her 7-6 1-6 7-5 loss
to #44 Carla Suárez Navarro in the first round of Hobart - after
leading 5-2 in the third set!

Anna came through the first round here with a less-than-convincing 6-1
6-7(4) 6-1 win over Anne Keothavong, who offered very weak resistance
in the third set.

Despite Anna's struggles, I think she would have too much game for
Jelena at this stage of Jelena's comeback (they've never played each
other before). Anna has groundstrokes of flairsome power like Jelena,
but plays with greater variety, has better defensive skills, and is so
deceptive! For Anna, it's just a matter of cutting out the unforced
errors that plagued her in 2008.

But still, I believe that class is permanent, and now that Jelena's
finally back playing at this level, she just might rediscover
something resembling her form from of old: the kind of form that saw
her hitting winners at will past Martina Hingis at Wimbledon 1999.

With both Jelena and Anna being members of my Eternal Fanship, I feel
very bad to wish a second-round loss on either of them, but my loyalty
is to Jelena, because she needs it more.

Jelena is at the crossroads of her career, as she has indicated that
she might retire if she fails to reestablish herself on the WTA Tour
in 2009. So it's very important that she takes advantage of her
wild-card opportunities in Australia, otherwise she'll be struggling
to get into WTA tournaments and the other three Majors later in the year.

From a more selfish perspective, there's more chance of Jelena being
televised on BBCi if it's she who advances, because, as an Australian,
she's far more likely to be scheduled on the Rod Laver Arena
evening-session again. She's already very popular in Australia at the
moment, and this would increase exponentially with every win she could
get here.


4.1 Articles
------------

Australian Open: Day 3 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2902
>>>
Top seed Jelena Jankovic is back in action as the second round gets
underway at the Australian Open on Wednesday, against former
junior-star Kirsten Flipkens. But the Serbian world No.1 will probably
understand that much of the focus will be on another player who shares
her first name: Jelena Dokic.

Rod Laver
(17) Anna Chakvetadze vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - First meeting

As it happens, Chakvetadze was runner-up to Flipkens in the Wimbledon
junior-final back in 2003, but whereas the Belgian has struggled in
the senior ranks, Chakvetadze has cashed in her chips in fine style.

That said, 2008 wasn't the happiest of seasons for the 21-year-old,
who dropped out of the top 10. The young Russian's Major results took
a backward step and, despite winning the Paris Indoors in February -
marking seven tournament-wins from seven finals - Chakvetadze spent
much of the year conspicuously short of back-to-back wins, let alone
trophies.

On the other side of the net, Dokic's troubles have been well
documented, but the former world No.4 - now clawing her way back from
No.187, was impressive against Tamira Paszek on Monday. Both have it
all to play for, but are prone to self-admonishment. It could be an
emotional night.
<<<

2009 Australian Open - Nick's Picks - Women's Singles Round 2
Nick Bollettieri <nickstennispicks.com>
>>>
Jelena Dokic (AUS) vs. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) - Dokic won her first
Major singles-match since 2003 in front of her home-fans on Monday. No
one has ever questioned her ability to be a top-notch player, but
sometimes outside forces have a tremendous impact on your life. We are
thrilled to have her back on the tour, and hope she can remain
competitive for years to come. Chakvetadze is very sold [solid?], and
for Dokic to win this match, it is not going to be easy. The question
is: How much does she have left in her tank after a very emotional win
in the first round?
<<<

2009 Australian Open: Day Three Preview
Aaress Lawless <www.onthebaseline.com>
>>>
Jelena Dokic (AUS) v. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)[17]

A tearful Jelena Dokic revealed in her post-match press-conference on
Monday just what it feels like to finally be back where she believes
she belongs. It has been a long five years for Dokic in her
Melbourne-return, but with every win, she is signalling that perhaps,
happy days are here again.

Despite Chakvetadze's seeding, this is a winnable match for Jelena.
Facing a top-twenty seed in the second round is never ideal, but if
she had to pick one player, it might likely have been Chakvetadze.
Anna hasn't been the same since her family was robbed in the 2007
off-season, and her results continue to slide. Factor in the support
of the crowd and the emotion of the moment, and fans in Rod Laver
Stadium might have something to cheer about on Wednesday night.

Jelena Dokic in three sets.
<<<

Australia Day comes early at Melbourne Park (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Former world number-four Jelena Dokic and teenage sensation Bernard
Tomic are expected to inspire a surge in ticket-sales as the pair have
been given top billing at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Melbourne Park will be a seething mass of green and gold on Day Three,
with local fans keen to provide a tidal wave of raucous support to two
of their own, who will both play under floodlights on Rod Laver Arena.

World number-two Roger Federer will have to take a back seat for once
as he continues his quest for a record-equalling 14th Major title.

Federer was shunted into the day-session - albeit on centre court -
for his contest against Russia's Evgeny Korolev.

Dokic, the on-again, off-again, on-again Australian who has had
well-publicised battles with her tempestuous father Damir, won her
first Melbourne Park match in a decade when she beat Austria's Tamira
Paszek on Monday.

An emotional Dokic later said she had almost given up tennis because
of her continuous battles with her father before finally walking out
on her family.

When she returned to Australia three years ago, she asked fans to
forgive her, which they did in spades on Monday with their chants of
'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!'

CROWD-SUPPORT

She will be hoping for similar support when she faces Russian 17th
seed Anna Chakvetadze.

"They really got behind me, which was great," said Dokic, who will be
appearing in a Major second round for the first time since the 2003 US
Open.

"I don't know when was the last time that the crowd was really like that."
<<<

Match Analysis: Jelena Dokic v Anna Chakvetadze (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
BACKGROUND

Jelena: After her hard-fought victory over Tamira Paszek in the first
round, the tearful Dokic has become the event's sentimental favourite.
It was the first time the much-put-upon native of the former
Yugoslavia and former world No.4 passed the first round since 1999,
and she really looks like she's getting past her family- and emotional
problems that essentially took her off the Tour from 2004-2007. The
aggressive blonde hasn't looked this confident since 2002.

Anna: This Martina Hingis play-alike is one of the most creative
players on tour, with soft hands, quick feet and incredible
anticipation, hence her rise to the world No.5 ranking in September of
2007, after she reached the US Open semi-finals. But since she and her
family were mugged at home in Moscow in December 2007, she lost a
tremendous amount of confidence and rhythm, and has yet to regain her
once-stellar form.

CURRENT FORM

Jelena: Her three-set win over Paszek showed off relentless, lethal
groundstrokes, and a vicious return of serve. However, her own serve
is often spotty, and although she's a much smarter player than she was
as a teen, she doesn't move as fast as she did then, and is still
prone to bouts of wildness.

Anna: At times in her three-set win over Anne Keothavong, the old,
effective Chakvetadze returned: misdirecting balls, sweeping backhands
down the line, and forehands crosscourt. But the shaky Russian was
also there, tearing up, getting down on herself, over and
under-hitting. The 17th seed remains an enigma.

STRENGTH

Jelena: Her outright aggressiveness and little fear of whom she is
playing has always been one of her greatest strengths. She can rip
winners off both wings, and easily munch on slow second serves. When
she gets into the zone, she's almost untouchable.

Anna: An extremely smart player for a 21-year-old, she has remarkable
anticipatory skills. She's a terrific offense-to-defense player, who
has an underrated first serve and deft placement. But all that can go
away when she's lacking self-belief.

TACTICS

Jelena: Dokic needs to attack Chakvetadze's second serves, go hard at
her forehand crosscourt, and not get frustrated when the Russian
frequently changes place [pace?]. She has too dare the Russian to try
to trade big blows with her. She must trick Chakvetadze into playing a
macho contest, instead of attempting to engage in a chess-match.

Anna: At this point in her young career, the most important thing for
Chakvetadze is to keep positive and keep her brittle emotions in
check. She has all the tools to be a top-five player again, and once
she's able to string Dokic out, should have the upper hand in rallies.
But she's having trouble closing out rallies after she sets up a
winning shot - a sure sign of a lack of confidence. She has to yell at
herself, "I believe!"

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The two have never played, but they do share Tamira Paszek in common:
Dokic beat her on Monday in three sets, and Chakvetadze took the
Austrian down twice on hardcourts in straight sets.
<<<

------------------------------
5. Order of play for Wednesday
------------------------------

Rod Laver Arena (start 11:00 AEDT = 00:00 GMT)
WS 2r: ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF] v Alberta Brianti
MS 2r: Jérémy Chardy v NOVAK ĐOKOVIC [3]
MS 2r: Evgeny Korolov v ROGER FEDERER [2]
|
Evening-session (start 19:30 AEDT = 08:30 GMT)
WS 2r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v ANNA CHAKVETADZE [17,EF]
MS 2r: Bernard Tomic v Gilles Müller

I'm delighted that Jelena and Anna are on the Rod Laver Arena
evening-session, because that means they'll be on BBCi at 08:30 GMT!
:D Thank God there are no Britons on Wednesday's order of play! (in
singles).

That's what I wrote before I heard the following announcement on BBCi:
"Tomorrow, you'll get a chance to see a couple of matches featuring
the second and third seeds - Roger Federer and Novak Đokovic - and you
can also see those matches repeated again at 8:30 in the UK." :fiery:
:fiery: :fiery:

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

Jelena plays Anna Chakvetadze on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session
tomorrow (Wednesday), but the BBC is threatening to renege on its
promise to televise this session, in order to show recorded men's
matches instead! :-||

I have posted a complaint to the BBC at the following locations:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/3701180.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml
http://preview.tinyurl.com/bbc-ao-blog

The more people who complain, the more likely the BBC will be to
repent and show Jelena v Anna after all.

My complaint:

I am writing to express my disappointment in the strongest possible
terms about the ongoing decisions to show repeats of Australian Open
Men's Singles matches on BBCi at 08:30 GMT on Tuesday 20th and
Wednesday 21st January 2009 - instead of live coverage of the Women's
Singles matches at these times.

Just before the Australian Open began, the BBC promised live coverage
of the Rod Laver Arena evening-sessions at these times, so the
decisions to renege on this promise are completely unfair to fans who
take their annual leave to watch the BBC's coverage primarily for
women's tennis.

On Tuesday, BBCi showed a repeat of the match between Andy Murray and
Andrei Pavel at 08:30 GMT, missing the first hour of Stosur v
Zakopalová - and at the time this decision was made, it was highly
probable that BBCi would have missed the whole match.

On Wednesday, BBCi plans to show repeats of Chardy v Đokovic and
Korolev v Federer at 08:30 GMT, overriding the Women's Singles match
between Jelena Dokic and Anna Chakvetadze, which I (and no doubt many
others) had had my heart set on watching since the draw was made.
The players and the order-of-play committee have kept up their end of
the bargain - please now keep up your end.

There's really no excuse for these reprehensible decisions. Fans who
want to watch the men's matches from the Australian day-session have
the opportunity to watch them live on BBCi during the night, or to
watch one of the endless repeats on BBCi (both before 08:30 GMT, and
after live coverage of the evening-session).

Please be reasonable tomorrow, and do not let down fans of women's
tennis by reneging on the BBC's promise to show live coverage of the
Rod Laver Arena evening-session. Dokic and Chakvetadze are two of the
most talented and attractive stars of the women's game, and we have
been waiting since Wimbledon 2004 to see Dokic on the BBC.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-tennis

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. UK TV-alert
3. First-round draw
4. Jelena Dokic preview
5. Order of Play for Monday

Master-thread for Andrew's Australian Open 2009 reports:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=364478

---------
1. Photos
---------

Jelena practising:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/7p76sv

--------------
2. UK TV-alert
--------------

The evening-sessions on Rod Laver Arena will be televised on BBCi
from 08:25 GMT each day of the tournament (digital viewers press Red
or select the appropriate Freeview-channel: it could be either 301 or
302).

This coverage will consist of the women's match on the evening-
session of the Rod Laver Arena (on days that there is one), followed
by the men's match, followed by recorded coverage of these matches
(or Andy Murray's match) on a continuous loop.

Additionally, all Andy Murray's matches will be televised live on
either BBC 1 or BBC 2 (his first match is on Tuesday). I think it's
quite possible that bits of other matches might be shown in these
programmes if Murray's match starts late or finishes early, as was
occasionally the case when the BBC used to do this for Tim Henman.

Other Australian Open coverage on BBC television:
* Saturday 24th January: highlights on BBC 1 (13:00 to 14:30 GMT);
* Saturday 31st January: highlights of Women's Singles final on BBC 2
(13:00 to 14:00 GMT);
* Sunday 1st February: Men's Singles final live on BBC 2 (from 08:30
GMT).

The Women's Singles final will be on the Rod Laver Arena evening-
session for the first time this year, therefore it will be live on
BBCi.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6102132.stm

-------------------
3. First-round draw
-------------------
Key
---

[Q] qualifier
[WC] wild card
[LL] lucky loser
[EF] member of my Eternal Fanship
[DF] member of my demi-fanship
[S] Selesian
(* ?x v ?y) I prefer ?x to win
(!) enthusiastic support
(!!) very enthusiastic support!
(my loyalty is to ?x) I like both players, but prefer ?x
(my Reason says ?x, but my Passion says ?y) I prefer ?x in tennis-
terms, but want ?y to win because she's more attractive
(my Passion says ?x, but my Reason says ?y) I find ?x more
attractive, but want ?y to win because I prefer her game


3.1 Top quarter
---------------

* JELENA JANKOVIC [1] v Yvonne Meusburger
* Kirsten Flipkens v Rossana de los Ríos (komaan Kirsten!)
* Viktoriya Kutuzova [Q] v Nathalie Dechy (davai Viktoriya!)
* AI SUGIYAMA [26] v Stéphanie Dubois [Q]

* Lucie Šafárová [EF] v SYBILLE BAMMER [24] (POJDME LUCIE!!)
* Marina Erakovic v Petra Cetkovská (slight preference to Marina)
* Tsvetana Pironkova [DF] v Karolina Šprem [Q,DF] (my Reason says
Karolina, but my Passion says Tsvetana)
* MARION BARTOLI [16,DF,S] v Melanie South (allez Marion!)

* Yaroslava Shvedova v NADIA PETROVA [10] (davai Yari!)
* Sania Mirza [DF] v Marta Domachowska (my loyalty is to Sania)
* Monika Wejnert [WC] v Karin Knapp (go Monika!)
* ÁGNES SZÁVAY [23] v Galina Voskoboeva

* MARIA KIRILENKO [27,DF] v Sara Errani (davai Maria!)
* Monica Niculescu [S] v Katie O'Brien [Q] (my Passion says Katie,
but my Reason says Monica)
* Maria Elena Camerin v Edina Gallovits (forza Maria Elena!)
* VERA ZVONARËVA [7,EF] v Magdaléna Rybáriková [DF] (my loyalty is to
VERA)


3.2 Second quarter
------------------

* Alla Kudryavtseva v DINARA SAFINA [3] (Kud is the lesser of two
evils)
* Aravane Rezaď v Ekaterina Makarova (allez Aravane!)
* Patricia Mayr v Julia Schruff [Q]
* Kimiko Date Krumm [Q] v KAIA KANEPI [25] (ganbatte Kimiko!)

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [19,EF] v Casey Dell'Acqua (PODME DANIELA!!)
* Mathilde Johansson v Jill Craybas (allez Mathilde!)
* Andrea Petkovic v Kathrin Wörle [Q]
* ALIZÉ CORNET [15] v Mariya Koryttseva (allez Alizé!)

* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [11] v Shahar Pe'er (my loyalty is to Caroline)
* Virginia Ruano Pascual v Mariana Duque Marino (Ąvamos Virginia!)
* Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] v Tamira Paszek (GO JELENA!!)
* ANNA CHAKVETADZE [17,EF] v Anne Keothavong (DAVAI ANNA!!)

* ALISA KLEYBANOVA [29] v Sofia Arvidsson
* Barbora Záhlavova Strýcová v Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro
* Yanina Wickmayer v Alberta Brianti [Q] (komaan Yanina!)
* ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF] v Julia Görges (my loyalty is to Ana)


3.3 Third quarter
-----------------

* VENUS WILLIAMS [6] v Angelique Kerber
* Roberta Vinci v Carla Suárez Navarro (forza Roberta!)
* Melanie Oudin [Q] v Akgul Amanmuradova
* María José Martínez Sánchez v TAMARINE TANASUGARN [32]

* ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [21] v Isabella Holland [WC]
* Elena Vesnina v Julie Coin (davai Elena!)
* Jessica Moore [WC] v Christina McHale [WC] (go Jessica!)
* FLAVIA PENNETTA [12,DF] v Mara Santangelo (forza Flavia!)

* Kristina Mladenovic [WC] v PATTY SCHNYDER [14]
* Jarmila Gajdošová v Virginie Razzano
* Hsieh,Su-Wei [S] v Chan,Yung-Jan (jia you Su-Wei!)
* DOMINIKA CIBULKOVÁ [18] v Chanelle Scheepers [Q] (podme Domi!)

* Sabine Lisicki v ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK [30] (komm jetzt Sabine!)
* Klára Zakopalová v Samantha Stosur (pojdme Klára!)
* Iveta Benešová v Vera Dushevina (pojdme Iveta!)
* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [4] v Kristina Barrois (davai Elena!)


3.4 Bottom quarter
------------------

* Anastasia Rodionova v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8]
* Ayumi Morita [S] v Tatjana Malek (my Passion says Tatjana, but my
Reason says Ayumi)
* Nicole Vaidišová [EF] v Séverine Brémond (POJDME NICOLE!!)
* ALYONA BONDARENKO [31] v Olivia Rogowska [WC] (davai Alyona!)

* ZHENG,JIE [22] v Camille Pin (jia you Jie!)
* Sorana Cîrstea v Melinda Czink (hai Sorana!)
* Ekateryna Bychkova v Lourdes Domínguez Lino (davai Ekateryna)
* Kateryna Bondarenko v AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [9]

* VICTORIA AZARENKA [13] v Petra Kvitová
* Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Tathiana Garbin
* Elena Baltacha [Q] v Anna-Lena Grönefeld (go Elena!)
* Olga Govortsova v AMÉLIE MAURESMO [20] (davai Olga!)

* Peng,Shuai [S] v FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE [28] (jia you Shuai!)
* Sesil Karatantcheva [Q] v Nuria Llagostera Vives
* Gisela Dulko [DF] v Anastasiya Yakimova (Ąvamos Gisela!)
* SERENA WILLIAMS [2] v Yuan,Meng [WC]

-----------------------
4. Jelena Dokic preview
-----------------------

Ten years ago, Jelena looked like a world #1 in the making. She
thrashed Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 at Wimbledon 1999, Venus Williams
6-1 6-2 at Rome 2000, won five WTA singles-titles and reached a
career-high ranking of #4. But then her well-documented family-
problems caught up with her, and she fell off the tennis-radar,
battling depression and injuries.

2008 was a something of an encouraging turnaround for Jelena, as she
compiled a 35:10 win/loss record mainly on the ITF circuit, winning
three ITF singles-titles, working her way back to her current ranking
of #187. She gained her place at the Australian Open by winning the
wild-card play-off tournament in December.

Jelena's 7-6 7-6 loss to Amélie Mauresmo at Brisbane was encouraging,
as she hadn't played someone ranked as high as #23 for years. Less
encouraging is that she pulled out of Hobart-qualifying after
spraining her right Achilles' tendon while practising. "The
Australian Open is still 10 days away, so I still have some time,
which is good, and I should be all right," she said.

Jelena is at the crossroads of her career, as she has indicated that
she might retire if she fails to reestablish herself on the WTA Tour
in 2009. So it's very important that she takes advantage of her wild-
card opportunities in Australia, otherwise she'll be struggling to
get into WTA tournaments and the other three Majors later in the year.


4.1 First round
---------------

Jelena starts against #80-ranked 18-year-old Tamira Paszek, whom
she's never played before.

Paszek has amazing groundstrokes, and was very impressive as a 16-
year-old in 2007. She took a set off Maria Sharapova at Birmingham,
and reached a career-high ranking of #35 after reaching the fourth
round of Wimbledon with wins over #17 Tatiana Golovin and #13 Elena
Dementieva; she also reached the fourth round of the US Open with a
win over #12 Patty Schnyder.

Paszek suffered a sophomore-slump in 2008, with a win/loss record of
16:18 after her 33:18 of 2007. The nadir was a 6-match losing-streak
that included a 6-1 6-0 loss to Tamarine Tanasugarn at Birmingham.
She looked so fat then, and yet two months later, she upset world #1
Ana Ivanovic at Montréal and looked quite delectable!

Paszek reached the final of Bali 2008 with wins over #16 Flavia
Pennetta and #11 Daniela Hantuchová, although she was hammered
6-3 6-0 by Schnyder in that final. Paszek finished 2008 on a 3-match
losing-streak, and it's Jelena's job to extend that to 4 matches here.

It's a difficult match to call, as Paszek has been so up and down in
the last year. If she's down on Monday, then the resurgent Jelena
definitely has a chance.


4.2 Second round
----------------

If Jelena beats Paszek, she should be facing a mouthwatering second-
round match with Anna Chakvetadze [17], although having to lose one
of them in the second round feels like a dagger in my heart!

Anna slumped from #6 to #18 in 2008 following a traumatic ordeal in
December 2007 in which she was tied up by housebreakers, although she
did manage to win Paris and reach the New Haven final. But her
win/loss record was only 28:23.

Anna beat Sania Mirza 6-4 6-4 as Team Russia reached the final of the
Hong Kong exhibition, and her 7-6 6-3 loss to Venus Williams was
encouraging, considering that Williams thrashed #1 Jelena Jankovic
and #7 Vera Zvonarëva both 6-2 6-2 in that tournament!

Less encouraging was Anna's 3-6 6-4 6-4 loss to Gisela Dulko in
another rubber of the Hong Kong final, and then her 7-6 1-6 7-5 loss
to #44 Carla Suárez Navarro in the first round of Hobart - after
leading 5-2 in the third set!

Despite Anna's struggles, I think she would have too much game for
Jelena at this stage of Jelena's comeback (they've never played each
other before). Anna has groundstrokes of flairsome power like Jelena,
but plays with greater variety, has better defensive skills, and is
so deceptive! For Anna, it's just a matter of cutting out the
unforced errors that plagued her in 2008.


4.3 Third round
---------------

Should Jelena upset the odds to reach her first Major third round
since Wimbledon 2003, her likely opponent would be 18-year-old
Caroline Wozniacki [11].

After a surprising loss to #76 Elena Vesnina at Auckland, Wozniacki
had a very impressive Sydney, thrashing #19 Dominika Cibulková
6-1 6-2 and #110 Melanie South 6-2 6-0. She then had three match-
points against Serena Williams before losing 6-7 6-3 7-6 in the
quarter-finals.

I saw a few points of that match at www.sonyericssonwtatour.com.
The way Wozniacki stranded Williams with a pinpoint crosscourt
forehand to set up a down-the-line forehand winner suggests great
things for Wozniacki in 2009!

Wozniacki has been tipped to upset Ana Ivanovic [5] in the fourth
round, so it's not looking too optimistic for Jelena in the third
round!

---------------------------
5. Order of Play for Monday
---------------------------

Hisense Arena (start 11:00 AEDT = 00:00 GMT)
WS 1r: Julia Görges v ANA IVANOVIC [5,DF]
MS 1r: Juan Martín del Potro v Mischa Zverev
WS 1r: Jelena Dokic [EF] v Tamira Paszek
MS 1r: MARAT SAFIN [26] v Ivan Navarro

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic

I have just updated Jelena's biography on my website:
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-dokic-biography

It is *not* a copy of Jelena's standard WTA Tour biography, but my own
detailed appreciation of her game, followed by a review for every year
of her career. I have edited the introduction, and added a review of
2008.

I have also replaced the term "Grand Slam" with "Major" when referring
to the four Major tournaments individually. It is my New Year's
Resolution to reserve the term "Grand Slam" for the winning of all four
Majors.

I wish Jelena and all her fans a happy new year.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad

hey Jelena! go hard girl, just found out you made it to qualify for
sydney! hope you can get in cause we would LOVE to have you here again!
stuff what they all say, go hard girl! i love you and never gave in to
stupid media hype! love you heaps and all the best! ~ Skurvy

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/

Jelena has won a wild card into the main draw of the Australian Open
2009!

rr + Sophie Letcher, 6-3 6-0
rr - Monika Wejnert, 6-4 3-6 4-6
rr + Marija Mirkovic, 6-4 6-2

qf + Brittany Sheed, 6-2 6-2
sf + Emelyn Starr, 6-1 6-1
_f + Monika Wejnert, 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3

I'm delighted for Jelena. I haven't had much to say to the JD
community in the last two years, with her not having played the few
tournaments I vowed to still report on when I took my current job,
but I still love her so much; my heart bleeds for her when I read
about how she was battling severe depression for two years (after her
well-documented family-problems), but 2008 has been something of an
encouraging turnaround, with Jelena winning three ITF singles-titles,
and coming out trimmer, fitter and more confident than in 2004-2007.
I just hope that she can reestablish herself on the WTA Tour in 2009,
before it's too late.

I can't believe it's been 9˝ years since I inducted Jelena into my
Eternal Fanship!

------
Photos
------

1. http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/
(there are photos with this week's articles)

2. http://www.tennis.com.au/pages/default.aspx?id=4&pageId=13869
(photos in various places around the site, e.g. "Photos", and "News"
under "AO Play-off")

3. http://tennisrulz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7770&page=15
(pp.15-18)

4. http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=363520

5. Search Getty Images for "dokic"

Jelena's beauty is well documented, and while she may not be quite as
delectable at 25 as of old, there are certainly some real gems of her
from this week.

Monika Wejnert has been a real discovery for me this week. Her
results have been impressive (Jelena was the only player to beat her
at the wild-card play-off, or even take a set off her), and she also
looks very cute. I hope she too manages to find a way into the
Australian Open 2009, despite not winning the play-off.
Certainly a name to look out for in the future!

------
Videos
------

Videos (match-highlights & interviews):
http://www.tennis.com.au/pages/default.aspx?id=4&pageId=11501

The highlights: The cameras are close up on the players at all times,
so you don't get to see any of the rallies, but you do get a good
impression of strokes and footwork. Jelena's fantastic groundstrokes
of flairsome power are obviously well documented, and she looks to be
moving well too. Wejnert looks a bit lightweight, with slow take-
backs on her groundstrokes, but she does seem to accelerate suddenly
to the point of impact, especially on her backhand.

The interviews: Jelena's accent is a lot more Serbian and less
Australian than it was in the days when her interviews were regularly
televised.

----------------------
Pretournament articles
----------------------

Dokic to launch Australian Open bid [Teletext 495->498]
(Tuesday 25th November 2008)
>>>
Dokic eyes Open place [Teletext 498]

Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic is determined to earn her place in
January's Australian Open after being denied a wild card last year.

The 25-year-old, now world No.177, will contest the wild-card play-
off next month, where the winner earns direct entry into the main
draw.

Tournament-director Craig Tiley said: "She will have an opportunity,
but she will have to earn it."
<<<

http://tennis.com/news/ticker.aspx (Tuesday 25th November 2008)
>>>
Jelena Dokic will try to qualify for next year's Australian Open,
report Australian press. The former Top-5 player, now ranked No.177,
is competing for Australia again, and would be eligible for Tennis
Australia's wildcard play-offs.
<<<

Dokic eyes up Australian Open berth [Teletext 495->498]
(Monday 8th December 2008)
>>>
Dokic eyes Aussie Open [Teletext 498]

Jelena Dokic has returned to Australia from her Monte Carlo home as
she prepares to try and gain a wild-card entry into the Australian
Open.

The former Serbia & Montenegro ace, 25, is training for the 15th-21st
December play-off, with the winner gaining entry into the Major event.

Dokic - a world No.4 in 2002 - has resurrected her career, and
patched up her relationship with Tennis Australia.
<<<

Dokic buries hatchet with Aussie Open, guns for wildcard (Reuters,
Monday 8th December 2008)
Writing by Ossian Shine; editing by Ed Osmond
>>>
Peace has broken out in Jelena Dokic's war of words with the
Australian Open after she apologised for lashing the Major tournament
when she was overlooked for a wild-card entry this year.

Former world number-four Dokic, who, together with her firebrand-
father Damir, has endured a rocky relationship with Australian tennis-
officials for years, most recently hit out over a perceived lack of
support.

"I definitely think I deserved a wild card into the main draw," she
raged in January after being overlooked for the 2008 tournament.

"I think I've done more in one week, and had more big wins in one
week, than some of those girls have in their whole careers," she said
of the unheralded recipients.

Yugoslav-born Dokic also accused wild-card selectors of a conflict of
interest. Some were involved in coaching candidates for the four free
spots into the main draw.

Dokic represented Australia until switching to Serbia and Montenegro
in 2001 following a fall-out with her adopted nation, but then
switched back to Australia in 2006.

Back in Melbourne to play for a wild-card berth in the 2009 Open,
however, Dokic is adopting a conciliatory tone.

"I have apologised to him [Open tournament-director Craig Tiley] and
Tennis Australia," she told reporters. "I made some remarks in
January that were out of line.

"At the time, I should not have said that."

Dokic is competing in the Australian Open play-off from 15th-21st
December. The men's and women's singles winners from the week-long
event will gain wild-card entries into the year's first Major, which
begins on 19th January.

Dokic's ranking went into freefall, and she dropped out of the
world's top 600 after missing most of 2007. She resurrected her
career this year, however, with three titles on the second-tier ITF-
circuit, and has climbed back up to 179th.
<<<

My comment:
>>>
I don't see why Jelena should have had to apologise. After all that
she's done for Australian tennis over the years, it is they who
should be apologising for denying her a wild card for the Australian
Open 2008. Instead of setting conditions, they should be down on
their knees, begging for her to play in their Major!
<<<

Dokic back on track for Aussie Open [Teletext 495->498]
(Tuesday 9th December 2008)
>>>
Dokic on track in Oz [Teletext 498]

Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic admitted the 2009 season is her last
chance to return to the big time - beginning with her Australian Open
qualifying-bid.

The 25-year-old, back in Melbourne to compete for an entry into the
Major, believes she is capable of resurrecting her career.

She said: "I have worked hard and think I am close to having a good
year. If I get in the draw, it would be great."
<<<

Jelena Dokic aware that time is ticking to regain top form
(Tuesday 9th December 2008)
By Roger Vaughan (Fox Sports/AAP)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's tennis-career is in a vastly better state than a year
ago, but she knows time is running out to regain her star-billing.

The 25-year-old is back in Melbourne to prepare for the 15th-21st
December Australian Open wildcard play-off.

Last summer, she needed a rigorous fitness-regimen before Christmas
to shed 10kg of excess weight.

Then, Dokic slammed the Australian Open when the tournament did not
grant her a discretionary wildcard.

But, after a poor start to 2008, Dokic flourished and brought her
international ranking up to #179: the best since 2004.

She is now Australia's fourth-ranked player, but is mindful that next
year will be crucial.

Dokic was ranked as high as fourth in the world six years ago.

Asked if 2009 would be the last chance to again reach such heights in
the sport, Dokic replied: "I would think so - I mean, you always have
chances, but I did get my ranking up this year, I'm on track.

"I'm in the best shape I've probably been in the last four years,
I've made a couple of steps forward and I need to continue for the
next six months.

"I think I'm on the way, I didn't play a full schedule this year and
I still got my ranking up enough to be in the quallies of tournaments.

"I've worked hard on my physical and mental condition, I think I'm
close to having a really good year."

Dokic has also apologised to Australian Open tournament director
Craig Tiley for her comments at the start of the year.

She says if the qualifiers are her lot, then so be it.

"I made some remarks in January that were a little bit out of line,
and at the time, I shouldn't have said anything.

"I regret what I said... I just hope everyone understands that and
I'm just here to do the play-off.

"I don't expect anything, I'm in the 'quallies' and I'm happy with
that.

"If I get in the main draw, that will be great, but also if I have to
play quallies, it's not a bad idea, either."

Dokic spent five weeks practising in Germany before returning to
Australia, and looked fit and sharp during a practice-session.

Her play-off opponents will include West Australian Jessica Moore,
ranked 138th in the world, and Monique Adamczak of New South Wales,
who is 203rd.

"It's just like every year: we're here to compete, and it will depend
on who's in the best form," Dokic said.

"I feel good, I've been training a lot, training hard, and I give
myself just as much of a chance as anyone else.

"I have some confidence now... the [wild-card] play-off will be a
really, really good test for me."
<<<

Dokic begins tilt at Open berth
Jesse Hogan (The Age, Monday 15th December 2008)
>>>
A fit-again Jelena Dokic will today try to make her Christmas and New
Year a little less stressful by securing early entry into the main
draw of the Australian Open.

Dokic is one of 16 women competing for a solitary place in the Open,
to be earned through winning the wild-card play-off tournament
beginning today at Melbourne Park.

The tournament, which also has a men's draw, gives local players a
chance to qualify for next month's Major tournament without having to
get through the official qualifying-tournament, which is open to all
nationalities.

Dokic's ranking of #179 is a far cry from her peak of No.4 in 2002,
although the trim 25-year-old said she was much fitter than she had
been during recent Open qualifying-attempts.

"I've played a lot more this year and got my ranking up enough to get
into qualifying for all of the [Australian] events, so it's been a
lot better... it's probably the best year I've had in the last three
years," Dokic said.

"There's still work to do. With the lack of matches and play, and
starting from zero, I'm not where I want to be, but considering how
much I've played — I put all the hard work in, especially at the end
of the season — I think I've done a good job."

Dokic, who has been in Melbourne for a week, is easily the oldest in
her group, in which she will play 18-year-old Marija Mirkovic and 16-
year-olds Monika Wejnert and Sophie Letcher.

Other entrants in the women's draw include Jessica Moore - who
reached the second round of this year's Australian and US Opens -
Sophie Ferguson and Jade Hopper.
<<<

-------------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Round robin (Monday 15th December 2008)
-------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Sophie Letcher, 6-3 6-0

Dokic off to a flying start in Open play-off (The Age/AAP)
>>>
Trim, fit and confident, Jelena Dokic made a flying start to the
Australian Open wild-card play-off on Monday.

The former world No.4 walloped Gold Coast junior Sophie Letcher
6-3 6-0 as she set her sights firmly on a spot in the first Major of
the year next month.

Dokic entered this week's play-offs fitter than at any point in
recent years - and with the results that have been consistently
missing in the past.

Still just 25, Dokic has armed herself with three ITF titles and
months of solid training aimed at building her speed and strength.

And she showed today there was a steely attitude to her latest
comeback.

"I didn't have to play to my maximum," Dokic said.

"I feel like I've come into this play-off with more confidence than
usual - I've already come into this with some matches and good
practice, so it was not so hard to get used to the conditions."

She said it was hard to judge her form and her potential, but
expected a lot of improvement.

"Obviously I think I'm not close [to my best], and I still need more
matches and still more work, but compared to 12 months ago, I think
I've made a huge improvement.

"In this play-off, the first match I've had was a lot more
comfortable than I had last year."

Dokic said she had concentrated on off-court work rather than hitting
balls this year.

"I haven't been hitting that much; I've just been really focusing on
my fitness-work: gymwork, footwork, a lot of running, endurance,
everything," she said.

"I've improved my serve a lot, and I think everything will come
together as I go forward."
<<<

-------------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Round robin (Tuesday 16th December 2008)
-------------------------------

- Jelena Dokic [EF] lt. Monika Wejnert, 6-4 3-6 4-6

Dokic falters in Aussie Open charge [Teletext 495->498]
(Tuesday 16th December 2008)
>>>
Dokic in Aussie Open blow [Teletext 498]

Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic saw her hopes of reaching the
Australian Open dented when she lost in the wild-card play-offs at
Melbourne Park.

The Australian former Wimbledon- and Olympic semi-finalist - now
ranked #179 in the world - was defeated 4-6 6-3 6-4 by 18-year-old
Monika Wejnert.

But Dokic can still qualify for the latter stages as she bids to
reach her first Major in three years.
<<<

Dokic loses to Aussie junior (Tuesday 16th December 2008)
By Kim Trengove
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2008-12-
16/200812151229306478280.html
>>>
Jelena Dokic's hopes of obtaining a wildcard into Australian Open
2009 took a step back today when she lost to 18-year-old Queenslander
Monika Wejnert at the wildcard play-off.

Dokic, who yesterday defeated Gold Coast teenager Sophie Letcher 6-3
6-0, was slowly ground down by the composed Wejnert 4-6 6-3 6-4.

While many observers considered her a a favourite to win the wild
card, the former world No.4 Dokic made an error-riddled showing on
the second day of the round robin play-off.

The field is divided into four groups for the men and four for the
women, with the top two in each group progressing to the quarter-
finals on Friday. Dokic's next opponent is Marija Mirkovic, who was
also beaten by Wejnert yesterday, and today fell to Letcher.

Mirkovic was the recent winner of the Optus 18s Australian
Championships: an event Wejnert withdrew from because of a wrist-
injury.

Wejnert, from Brisbane, won her first Pro Circuit title in Perth a
few weeks ago, and is an emerging talent on the Australian tennis-
landscape.

"She's probably the highest ranked I've beaten so far in my career,
so it's great," a delighted Wejnert said after the match. "I was a
bit nervous coming in, and [early in the game] she just kind of hit
me off court, but then I stabilised and it was good.

"She definitely has a great forehand, and I knew if I stayed in a
crosscourt rally, she would always come on top of me, so I was trying
to avoid that as much as possible."
<<<

-------------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Round robin (Wednesday 17th December 2008)
-------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Marija Mirkovic, 6-4 6-2

Dokic keeps wildcard-hopes alive
By Tennis Australia
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2008-12-
17/200812171229496642138.html
>>>
Jelena Dokic has kept her Australian Open wildcard-hopes alive with a
straight-sets win over Marija Mirkovic at Melbourne Park today.

Dokic eased past the newly-crowned Optus 18s Australian Girls'
Singles Champion 6-4 6-2 to confirm her place in Friday's quarter-
finals of the Australian Open Wildcard Play-off.

The former world No.4 had to beat Mirkovic to guarantee her position
in the last eight after she lost to 16-year-old Monika Wejnert in her
second round-robin match on Tuesday.

Earlier, Wejnert maintained her unbeaten status for the tournament
with a comfortable 7-5 6-3 win over Sophie Letcher.

The Queenslander withdrew from the Optus 18s Australian Girls'
Singles Championships last week with a wrist-injury, but is now the
form-player heading into the final stages of the play-off.

In the Magenta Group, Isabella Holland sealed her spot in the quarter-
finals with a fighting 4-6 6-3 6-3 win over Alison Bai.

Holland, who lost to Mirkovic in the Optus 18s final on Saturday,
said she was excited to move one step closer towards playing at the
Australian Open.

"It's definitely an exciting thought, but I'm just going to go out
there and play my game; I've got nothing to lose; I've kind of come
in as the underdog, so I'm just going to enjoy the experience," she
said.

"Even if it doesn't go my way, I'm really just focused on getting
some match-practice against some of the older girls."

Sophie Ferguson will also advance from the Magenta Group after she
won her third consecutive match for the tournament with a 6-4 6-2 win
over Shannon Golds.
<<<

Timing the key for Jelena Dokic
Bruce Matthews (Herald Sun)
>>>
A scratchy Jelena Dokic knows she must cut the rust from her powerful
groundstrokes to stay in the hunt for an Australian Open wild card.

Dokic rebounded from a shock second-round defeat in the round-robin
series with a 6-4 6-2 win against teenager Marija Mirkovic at
Melbourne Park yesterday to qualify for tomorrow's quarter-finals.

"I think I really have to step it up now. I play the top player from
another group [West Australian Brittany Sheed], and there's no room
for errors, bad points or bad games, or lack of concentration," Dokic
said.

While Tuesday's loss to 16-year-old Monika Wejnert was a wake-up call
for Dokic, the former world No.4 is still struggling for timing with
her lack of match-practice.

"I had a really horrible performance yesterday. I really didn't focus
much at all in a match I should've won. It was a little bit better
today, but I still need to improve a lot," Dokic said.

"I wanted to win in two sets, to have a comfortable match to try and
get into the quarter-finals.

"Maybe it was good because it was better today, but I'm still just a
little frustrated with yesterday. Even if I didn't get through, it
would've been my own fault.

"I always prefer to try to win all the [round-robin] matches, because
you can get yourself in an uncomfortable position and you never know,
you mightn't get through. So it's good that I'm through."

Dokic said she was still struggling with the pace on the slower
Melbourne Park outside courts.

"I've come from a much faster surface and indoors, and I'm standing
too far back," she said.

"Sometimes my footwork is off, so it's just the timing."
<<<

----------------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Quarter-finals (Friday 19th December 2008)
----------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Brittany Sheed, 6-2 6-2

Dokic lifts Australian Open chances [Teletext 495->498]
>>>
Dokic boosts Aussie hopes [Teletext 498]

Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic secured her place in the semi-finals
with a comfortable victory against Brittany Sheed.

Dokic defeated the Australian teenager 6-2 6-2 at Melbourne Park to
set up a clash with Emelyn Starr, who stunned world No.270 Sophie
Ferguson.
<<<

Dokic through to AO Wildcard Play-off semi-finals (Tennis Australia)
>>>
Jelena Dokic won through to the Australian Open Play-off semi-finals
on a day in which many of the other favourites were sent packing.

Dokic proved too strong for West Australian teenager Brittany Sheed
6-2 6-2 at Melbourne Park this morning, and will now play Grafton 20-
year-old Emelyn Starr, who upset the highly-ranked Sophie Ferguson
from New South Wales in three sets.
<<<

Dokic sets sights on Fed Cup return
Ella Ling (Tennis Australia)
>>>
[Jelena Dokic is through to the Australian Open Play-off semi-finals.]

Jelena Dokic breezed into the semi-finals of the Australian Open Play-
off today, and then revealed she was in talks to return to the Fed
Cup squad.

The former world No.4 crushed West Australian teenager Brittany Sheed
6-2 6-2 in just 53 minutes as she zeroed in on a spot in next month's
Major event.

She then said she was anxious to represent Australia in international
competition again.

"Sure. Of course I would love to play Fed Cup. I think in the
previous times that I've played, I've always been available," Dokic
said.

"If I get called for Fed Cup, I would love to play.

"We have been talking, but even for the first tournament, it's too
early to say anything."

Dokic has had preliminary discussions with Fed Cup captain David
Taylor and Tennis Australia officials.

She is back on friendly terms with TA and Open tournament-director
Craig Tiley after levelling a blast at them for refusing her a wild
card into the 2008 Open last January.

"Just generally, Tennis Australia [considered] my first step was to
come here," she said.

"And I really wanted to apologise, which I did, for my comments last
year to everybody - not just to Craig Tiley and Tennis Australia, but
all the coaches.

"I think they were all affected by that, and that was the first step
for me.

"So I've done that, [and] I just wanted to do the play-offs, see how
well I can do here, and whatever happens from now on is a bonus for
me."

Dokic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, has won five WTA titles, and
has a 9:2 singles-record in Fed Cup for Australia.

She is currently ranked #179 - back inside 200 for the first time
since 2004 - and is Australia's fourth-highest-ranked player.

Dokic is noticeably fitter and leaner than last year, and said she
was more confident in her latest comeback-attempt following
consistently good results on the world-tour this season.

"Every year, I say that I just wanted to get a couple of matches in
the play-offs," she said.

"This year, I did a lot better than last year, and I'm playing a lot
better, which is good.

"I think it's going well. It's going slowly, but I'm going forward."

Dokic will now meet Tamworth's Emelyn Starr for a place in the final –
Starr defeated Sydney's Sophie Ferguson 6-4 2-6 6-4.

In other quarter-final matches, Colin Ebelthite upset Davis Cup
player Peter Luczak 6-4 6-2, Carsten Ball went down to Marinko
Matosevic 6-3 6-7(9) 6-3, and Monika Wejnert defeated Olivia Rogowska
7-6(8) 7-6(3).
<<<

Jelena Dokic through to semis of Australian Open wild-card play-off
Bruce Matthews (Herald Sun/AAP)
>>>
Jelena Dokic is through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open
wild-card play-off after beating Britanny Sheed this morning.

Dokic took just 53 minutes to beat the WA-based Sheed 6-2 6-2.

The former world No.4 was impressive in difficult conditions,
handling the gusty wind much better than her less experienced
opponent.

After breaking serve in the opening game, Dokic remained in control
apart from a lapse late in the second set when she dropped serve once.

Dokic is in her best form for several years, and collected three ITF
titles this year.

She said she had been steadily gathering pace during this week's
tournament.

"It was good; I played calm, steady tennis and safe tennis," Dokic
said.

"She can be a tough player, she was No.1 in her group and she beat
the No.1 seed.

"I watched her play a little bit and she can hit the ball well, but I
had to keep her moving and not make errors."

Yesterday, Dokic rebounded from a shock second-round defeat in the
round-robin series with a 6-4 6-2 win against teenager Marija
Mirkovic at Melbourne Park.
<<<

Dokic is ready to answer the call
Linda Pearce (The Sydney Morning Herald)
>>>
Having moved to within two wins of only her second main-draw
Australian Open appearance in nine years, Jelena Dokic is also back
in contention for a Fed Cup recall, yesterday declaring herself
available to represent her adopted nation for the first time since
2000.

Fed Cup coach Nicole Bradtke was at Melbourne Park to watch Dokic
crush West Australian teenager Brittany Sheed 6-2 6-2 in the quarter-
finals of the Open's wildcard play-off, and will return for today's
semi against Emelyn Starr to provide an informal report for captain
David Taylor. Australia play an Asia-Oceania zone qualifying-series
in Perth in February.

"That fourth position [behind Samantha Stosur, Casey Dell'Acqua and
doubles-stalwart Rennae Stubbs] is definitely up for grabs for a
number of girls, Jelena being one - and I guess Sophie Ferguson, Jess
Moore - so Dave's just asked me to have a look at her," Bradtke
said. "She was very impressive today, and she looks in great shape."

Dokic built a 9:3 record in nine ties for Australia after a famous
début in 1998, before switching allegiances to her homeland: Serbia.
She is now eligible to play for Australia again, and ranked No.4
nationally, while attempting to claw back the goodwill lost through
her ill-advised criticism of Tennis Australia last January.

"If I get called for Fed Cup, I would love to play," said Dokic, who
added that she had spoken with TA officials, including Taylor, who
also coaches Stosur. "I think my first step was to come here, and I
really wanted to apologise - which I did - for my comments last year
to everybody."

Dokic, 25, has a fractured relationship with at least one of her
potential Fed Cup teammates, and a second player was cautious last
week when asked whether a recall had been earned, but Bradtke
said "the big picture" desire to return to the World Group suggested
the best players should be chosen, regardless. "I'd like to think
that the girls were mature enough to get beyond that," she said.
"I think everyone deserves a second chance."

While top-seeded Moore failed to qualify for the quarter-finals,
Ferguson yesterday was beaten by Starr: the 20-year-old surprise from
Grafton. The other women's semi will be contested by teenagers Monika
Wejnert and Isabella Holland.
<<<

-------------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Semi-finals (Saturday 20th December 2008)
-------------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Emelyn Starr, 6-1 6-1

DOKIC CLOSING IN ON AUSTRALIAN OPEN [Teletext 495->496]
>>>
Dokic into wild-card final [Teletext 496]

Jelena Dokic hammered Emelyn Starr to reach the Australian Open play-
off final and earn a chance of revenge against Monika Wejnert.

The former world No.4, beaten by Wejnert in the round-robin stage,
cruised to a 6-1 6-1 win over her unheralded opponent at Melbourne
Park.

Wejnert beat fellow teenager Isabella Holland 6-4 6-4 in her semi-
final, and has dropped only one set all week.
<<<

Dokic, Wejnert advance to final
By Rob O'Gorman (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has sealed her place in the Australian Open Wildcard
Play-off final with a blistering 6-1 6-1 defeat of Emelyn Starr at
Melbourne Park today.

Dokic was far too strong for the Grafton 20-year-old, and will now
face a rematch against Queensland teenager Monika Wejnert in Sunday's
final after Wejnert beat Isabella Holland 6-3 6-4.

The former world No.4 said she was focused on reversing her loss to
Wejnert earlier in the week, in tomorrow's final.

"After my loss [to Wejnert] in the round robin, I was really
disappointed.

"I had really tried to focus a lot more, and that was a careless
performance and shouldn't have happened, so maybe it was good for me
in a way.

"I would like to play her again; I think it would be a good test for
me.

"I was actually up in that match, even considering I didn't play that
well, so that's why I was disappointed that I lost and really lost my
concentration at the end.

"But in a way it helped me; I've really put up my level in the last
three days."

Wejnert said she was pleased with her performance today, and was
looking forward to tomorrow's final.

"Yeah, it was a great match and I was playing well, so hopefully I
will keep it up for tomorrow," Wejnert said.

"I've had some very tough matches and I'm playing well, so hopefully
I will keep going."

The 16-year-old has been the stand-out performer this week in the
play-off, with five consecutive wins over older opponents.

Wejnert, who pulled out of last week's Optus 18s Australian Girls'
Singles Championships, said she would not be intimidated coming up
against the more experienced Dokic in the final.

"It's not really important; they're just a normal person and they're
beatable - anyone is beatable," she said.

"I'm guessing she's a bit more polished this time, so I'm looking
forward to the match."

"I've always wanted to play in the Australian Open, and this is
obviously giving me an opportunity to get there."
<<<

Dokic in Australian Open wild-card final (The Sydney Morning
Herald/AAP)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has set up a re-match with Queensland junior Monika
Wejnert for an Australian Open wild-card spot.

The pair both sailed into Sunday's play-off final with straight-sets
victories on Saturday.

Dokic beat Tamworth's Emelyn Starr 6-1 6-1, and Wejnert scored a 6-3
6-4 win over Isabella Holland.

Sixteen-year-old Wejnert inflicted Dokic's only defeat of the play-
off tournament earlier in the week when she upset the former World
No.4.

Dokic, who said she was anxious to atone for her slip-up in the
event, said the key to her two unfussed wins in the past two days was
her decision not to rush her game.

"I was taking too many risks considering that I haven't played
matches in the last two or three months," she said.

"So I tried to get that under control and get my timing together.

"I'm still not playing to my maximum, and I'm trying to get there
slowly.

"I was trying to do it too fast and too soon in the first two
matches, and was just making some unnecessary errors.

"After my loss [to Wejnert] in the round robin, I was really
disappointed.

"I had really tried to focus a lot more, and that was a careless
performance and shouldn't have happened, so maybe it was good for me
in a way.

"I would like to play her again; I think it would be a good test for
me.

"I was actually up in that match, even considering I didn't play that
well so that's why I was disappointed that I lost, and really lost my
concentration at the end.

"But in a way it helped me; I've really put up my level in the last
three days."

Dokic said were she to win the wildcard play-off, she would go into
her first round in next month's Australian Open on a high.

"If I can win here, it would be a huge step for me, just considering
the confidence that you gain."
<<<

-------------------------
Wild-card play-off: Final (Sunday 21st December 2008)
-------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [EF] d. Monika Wejnert, 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3

First set:
DOKIC ___* * *@* *_ 6(3)
WEJNE *@* * *___* T 7(7) (Wejnert had 3 SPs at *5-3)

Second set:
DOKIC _@ @*__@* *@ 7
WEJNE @ @__*@__*__ 5

Third set:
DOKIC *@___@*@* 6
WEJNE __@*@____ 3

DOKIC FIGHTBACK EARNS WILD-CARD SPOT [Teletext 495->496]
(Sunday 21st December 2008)
>>>
Dokic earns wild-card spot [Teletext 496]

Jelena Dokic secured a wild-card place in the Australian Open after
coming from behind to beat Monika Wejnert.

Wejnert, 16, won the opening set on a tiebreak at Melbourne Park, but
Dokic hit back from a break down in the second to win 6-7 (3/7) 7-5
6-3.

She said: "I think the nerves set the whole match for me today, and
straight away from the beginning, they were there and didn't let go
until the third set."
<<<

Dokic wins wild card at Australian Open (AP)
>>>
Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Jelena Dokic won a wild-card spot at
next month's Australian Open by beating Monika Wejnert 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3
in a play-off on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Dokic - a former No.4 in 2002 - fell behind 0-3 in
the opening set, but recovered for the win in a play-off organised by
Tennis Australia to allocate the spots for local players.

She will now attempt to qualify for tune-up tournaments in Brisbane
and Hobart before taking her place in the main draw at Melbourne Park
beginning on 19th January.

"I don't have to worry about the Australian Open now," Dokic said.
"I came into here wanting to play qualifying, but to be in the main
draw gives me two tournaments before the Open to play."

A series of injuries and personal problems - many of them involving
her father Damir - accompanied Dokic's ranking plummet to #617 in
2006.

But she won three ITF titles this year, and has improved her ranking
to #179: her first time inside the top 200 in four years.

Dokic moved to Australia with her family in 1994, but renounced her
former home in 2001, and took up citizenship in her native Serbia.
She decided to play again for Australia in 2006.

She was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2000, losing in straight sets
to Lindsay Davenport, but made bigger headlines there the year before
when, as a 16-year-old qualifier, she beat No.1 Martina Hingis in the
first round.

Dokic, who has five career WTA singles-titles, said she no longer
speaks to her father, who has been kicked out of the US Open,
Wimbledon and other tournaments for volatile outbursts. When the
family left Australia, Damir Dokic also implied that the Australian
Open draw was rigged against his daughter.
<<<

Dokic wins Australian Open wild card
By Rob O'Gorman (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has secured a wild card into Australian Open 2009 after
beating teenager Monika Wejnert 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3 in the Wildcard Play-
off women's final at Melbourne Park today.

The 16-year-old Wejnert showed composure well beyond her years
throughout the epic encounter, but ultimately came up short as the
more experienced Dokic held sway in the final set.

Dokic, who lost to Wejnert earlier in the week during the round-robin
stage, said she felt nervous before the match, and was relieved to
come away with the win.

"She came in today with absolutely no pressure; she's played well all
week, and she's beaten everybody, so the pressure was on me to beat
her today," Dokic said.

"I lost to her in the group, so I really felt nervous going out
there, and the conditions were really, really difficult the first two
sets, so I'm happy to have come through; but it was not an easy
match; it was not a pretty match, but I did what I had to do."

"I think the nerves set the whole match for me today, and straight
away from the beginning, they were there and kind of didn't let go
until the third set."

In a high-quality affair, Wejnert raced to a 4-1 lead in the opening
set, and held three set-points at 5-4 before Dokic broke back to
force the set into a tiebreak. Wejnert showed plenty of composure to
win the tiebreak 7/3 and claim the first set.

In the second set, Wejnert scored a break of serve to lead 4-3 before
Dokic broke straight back to level the set at 4-4.

Wejnert then served a double fault on break-point to hand Dokic the
second set 7-5.

In the third set, Dokic saved a break point at 2-3, and then stormed
away to take the set 6-3 and secure a main-draw spot in the
Australian Open 2009.

"I played a good game there at 3-2, and just never looked back from
there, just played three really, really good games," Dokic said.

"I don't have to worry about the Australian Open now. I came into
here wanting to play qualifying, but to be in the main draw gives me
two tournaments before the Open to play, which is extra practice,
which is good."

Wejnert said she was disappointed to fall short in the third set, but
pleased with her effort in the tournament.

"Definitely it's a bit of a disappointment, obviously, but I played
really well and I felt my game's improving, so I really got out what
I came for," Wejnert said.
<<<

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/

Dokic looking to rebuild career (Reuters, 22nd October)
By Barry Wood
>>>
Jelena Dokic was once the wondergirl of tennis, making headlines in
1999 when, as a qualifier, she humbled number-one seed Martina Hingis.

Breezing through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals that year was
followed by a semi-final the next, and in 2002, she was ranked number
four in the world.

But she had baggage: a father whose erratic and threatening behaviour
led to him being banned from the Tour.

It was no secret to tennis-insiders that his overbearing personality
was directed as much against his daughter as it was against Tour-
officials and others.

The WTA Tour did what it could to protect her, but eventually Dokic
felt she had no choice but to flee from her family: a traumatic
experience that led to a career-collapse.

"I was on my own, and I was learning for two or three years what to
do, where to go and whom I could rely on," she said in Austria, where
she lost in the qualifying-rounds for the Linz Open.

"Once you feel that you've lost your family, you've pretty much lost
everything. You can lose a match, you can lose a friend, but your
family always stays with you. It took a long time to deal with and to
realise exactly what I have, which was just myself."

Years later, she still cannot speak about her father, referring to
him as 'somebody else'. But after floundering in the tennis-
wilderness, there are signs that the 25-year-old can finally regain
her place in the sport.

This year she has won an impressive 35 of 45 matches. Most of those
victories have come at low-level events, but as a result, her ranking
has risen from zero to #187.

"Yes, it's been good," said Dokic, who was born in Serbia but now
represents Australia.

"I've won a couple of tournaments. I've won a lot of matches this
year and gone a couple of steps forward, which is the main thing.

"I just need to continue working hard and playing as many matches as
I can get, and continue to be there when things don't go well."

She has been inspired by what Andre Agassi and Jennifer Capriati
achieved, doing the hard yards to come back from obscurity.

It has not been easy, but she has stuck to the task, banishing her
memories of competing on a packed Centre Court at Wimbledon as she
plays in empty arenas in no-name tournaments.

"I feel like I am starting from zero," she said. "You lose everything
that you had before. The only thing you have to go on is experience.
You lose the confidence and the match-play and everything, so you
really are starting from zero.

"It's something that will take time, but I think I'm getting there
slowly. It's been a lot better this year, and I think next year will
hopefully be even better. I'm slowly getting into that rhythm again,
and I think next year should be big for me."

The Tour has moved on - the standards are higher than when she rose
to the top - but Dokic feels she can still make an impact.

"I've practised with a couple of girls from the top 10, top 20.
There's work to do, but it's encouraging, and I feel I have the type
of game that's very aggressive and that can be in the top 20 again. I
think that's a realistic goal," she said.

"It will not be easy for sure, but I don't think it's something I
cannot achieve."
<<<

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. Qualifying: First round
3. Qualifying: Second round
4. Article: Dokic Still Chasing Her Dreams
5. Article: Remember Her? WTA players who fell off the map

---------
1. Photos
---------

Jelena Dokic:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/wta040344.html

--------------------------
2. Qualifying: First round (Thursday 10th January)
--------------------------

+ Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] d. Marina Erakovic, 6-4 6-1

Jelena Dokic wins first-round qualifier
By Bronwen Largier <www.australianopen.com>
>>>
Arguably one of the most controversial matches of the day went over
with barely a scream today as Jelena Dokic prevailed over New
Zealander Marina Erakovic: 6-4 6-1.

While Dokic sounded as though she was struggling for breath in the
heat a good deal more than her opponent, this is hardly surprising
given she has only been back on the court since October after a seven-
month self-imposed hiatus from the sport.

The first set was neck and neck, with the match going on serve until
Dokic was up 5-4.

She converted her second break-point in the next game after Erakovic
hit the ball long.

This seemed to be a tendency of Erakovic: to hit the ball out on
crucial points; she also struggled to capitalise on her opportunities
to break her opponent's serve, converting none of her four break-
points.

Both players had good court-coverage and managed to push the other
around the court.

However, with a set under her belt, Dokic proceeded to make light
work of the second set, conceding only one game to her increasingly
frustrated opponent.
<<<

Dokic thrilled to be back in the game
By Adele Holland <www.australianopen.com>
>>>
Jelena Dokic thought she would never pick up a racquet again, after
she had two and half years off from competing in WTA Tour tournaments.

In a press-conference following her defeat of New Zealander Marina
Erakovic, Dokic spoke of her personal battle with her will to play
tennis, and the struggle to get back in form to play Grand Slam
tennis.

"I feel like I've been through Hell and back, so this is good fun for
me right now. If I win, I'm really happy, but if I lose, then at the
end of the day it's just a tennis-match," she said.

Dokic said she has only recently made the decision that she wanted to
play competitively again. "I didn't have the will to play, and I was
very tired, and then all of a sudden I just clicked one day and I
thought I want to do this again."

Since Dokic arrived in Australia in mid-October, she has lost around
16 kilograms.

"I have a little more to go, obviously... but I'm very proud of
myself."

"Before I got here, I didn't touch a racquet or do any kind any
running or fitness for about 7 months," she said.

Dokic had no expectations leading into the Australian Open 2008. "If
you had [told] me a month ago that I would do as well as did in
Hobart and even winning my first match here, I would have been pretty
happy."
<<<

---------------------------
3. Qualifying: Second round (Friday 11th January)
---------------------------

- Jelena Dokic [WC,EF] lt. TAMARINE TANASUGARN [6], 2-6 1-6

Dokic down and out
By Tristan Foenander <www.australianopen.com>
>>>
Jelena Dokic's hopes of gaining a spot in the Australian Open main
draw were dashed today as Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn easily
accounted for the Aussie in straight sets: 6-2 6-1.

One of most anticipated matches of the day turned out to be a one-
sided affair as Dokic was completely outclassed by her Thai opponent.

Both players held their opening service-games, but Tanasugarn, the
No.6 seed, wasted no time in applying pressure to the Aussie's serve.

After breaking Dokic's next two service-games, the Thai quickly
established a good lead, and soon raced away with the set 6-2.

Things looked ominous again early in the second set as Dokic dropped
her first two service-games.

Tanasugarn was relentless in her pursuit of victory, and had no
intention of letting Dokic back in to the match, forging well ahead
to sail to victory 6-1.

Dokic said that she felt lethargic and did not handle the blustery
conditions.

"After the first game, I was a little bit slower than usual and they
just kind of carried on," she said.

"The conditions were not easy, and I didn't handle them very well."
<<<

Jelena: "I was disappointed they didn't even take me into
consideration [for a main-draw wild card], but that's the way Tennis
Australia does things."

------------------------------------------
4. Article: Dokic Still Chasing Her Dreams
------------------------------------------

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1983
Friday 18th January 2008
>>>
MELBOURNE, Australia - Although her quest to retake the Grand Slam
stage was cut short as she lost during Australian Open qualifying,
former Top 5 player Jelena Dokic still made her way back to the Sony
Ericsson WTA Tour limelight a week before at Hobart. And despite all
the setbacks, non-believers and a fairly removed sense of confidence,
she still believes she can do it again.

Following an excellent junior-career, which included a US Open
singles-title and a Roland Garros runner-up finish (to Nadia
Petrova), Dokic first made a stir on the Tour with a shock 6-2 6-0
upset win over then-world No.1 Martina Hingis in the first round of
Wimbledon in 1999. In the seasons to follow, she pretty much
accomplished it all: won Tour titles (five in singles, four in
doubles), cracked the Top 10 in both disciplines (going as high as
No.4 in singles and No.10 in doubles), and clearly asserting herself
as one of the most promising young stars in the women's game.

As quickly as it all came, however, it went.

"The last couple of years were tough for me," said Dokic, who dropped
out of the Top 100 in 2004, and has not been back inside since. "I
had some personal issues off the court that I was trying to sort out,
and I just couldn't give tennis the focus I wanted. I wanted to give
it 100% before coming back - and right now I feel I'm at that stage."

Having barely played over the last few years - and playing only one
match in 2007 - an unranked Dokic needed a wildcard just to enter the
qualifying-draw at the Moorilla Hobart International the week before
the Australian Open. It would end up being a breakout-performance, as
she won three matches to reach the main draw (including two wins over
top-100 players) and then beat world No.54 Martina Müller in the
first round of the main draw to make the second round.

"I really didn't expect to make it that far, and I don't think a lot
of people were expecting me to even make it through my first
qualifying-match," Dokic added. "But I beat three players in three
days, and won my first-round match as well. I really exceeded my
expectations, and I'm really excited."

After four straight days of play, disaster struck, however. Dokic
aggravated a right-ankle injury during the first set of her second
match against Flavia Pennetta, and retired: a disappointing end to a
marvellous comeback-week.

"I hurt it in my first round but aggravated it there," Dokic said
afterwards. "It was obviously great to come back in Australia, but it
was pretty tough to do so at a Tour-level event. I had some tough
opponents and I was playing hard all week. But it went far better
than I thought it would - I'm really pleased."

Dokic got a wildcard into Australian Open qualifying and won her
first match, but fell in her second match to Tamarine Tanasugarn.
With the sudden spike in play, however, it's not unheard of that a
comeback suffers a setback like that. And the big-hitting Australian
certainly isn't letting that cast a shadow on her 2008 goals.

"My goal at the start of the season was to make it back into the
world's top 50, but of course, as you saw, I'm going to be prone to
injuries the next few months probably, just because I haven't played
this much in the last two years.

"What I really miss about playing on the Tour is the competition. Day
in and day out just playing points and matches, and seeing how I can
do against the other players. In Hobart, I think I showed that I
still have the desire. And I'm looking forward to playing this year
out."
<<<

----------------------------------------------------------
5. Article: Remember Her? WTA players who fell off the map
----------------------------------------------------------

By Robert Waltz and Kamakshi Tandon
14th February 2008
http://tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=119078
>>>
JELENA DOKIC
------------

Career-high ranking: No. 4 (19th August 2002)
2007 year-end ranking: Unranked

WHAT HAPPENED: Dokic looked like she was soon destined to be a
fixture in the top 5 after pulling off a historic upset of defending
champ Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon in 1999 and
winning Rome two years later. But the warning-signs had already
started to appear, with Dokic changing her nationality from
Australian to Yugoslav under the influence of her notorious father
Damir. She eventually broke away from him, and her career appeared to
be on the right track for the next couple of years, but another
dubious relationship soon emerged as a pair of brothers took over as
coach and boyfriend, respectively. Bothered by an elbow-injury, she
lost her last nine matches in 2004, and was playing qualifying by the
middle of 2005. The following year, she reverted back to Australian
citizenship and re-established ties with Tennis Australia, but played
just one match in 2007.

OUTLOOK: Not optimistic yet, but potential for optimism

2008 has begun as a re-run of 2006 with Dokic returning Down Under
and experiencing success, reaching the second round at Hobart as a
qualifier but having to withdraw with an ankle-injury. She also had
to withdraw from the Australian Open wildcard-playoffs with a thigh-
injury, and also did not manage to qualify. And she hasn't played
since.


[Other players in the full article: Dája Bedánová, Elena Bovina,
Jennifer Capriati, Anna-Lena Grönefeld, Martina Hingis, Sesil
Karatantcheva, Anna Kournikova, Lina Krasnoroutskaya, Mirjana Lucic,
Anastasia Myskina, Mary Pierce, Chanda Rubin, Monica Seles, Karolina
Šprem, Alexandra Stevenson and Iroda Tulyaganova]
<<<

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/

I have just updated Jelena's biography on my website:
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/biography.html

It is *not* a copy of Jelena's standard WTA Tour biography, but my
own detailed appreciation of her game, followed by a review for every
year of her career. I have edited the introduction, and added a
review of 2007 (such as it was).

I can confirm that I will be reporting on the Australian Open 2008
(should Jelena end up playing in the main draw despite her failure to
win the wild-card play-off). I have also vowed to follow the French
Open, Wimbledon and the Olympics.

I wish Jelena and all her fans a happy new year - starting with a win
over Evgenia Linetskaya in Hobart-qualifying tomorrow (Friday).

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/

Who says men are more powerful than women?

This question may be partially truthful, but not in tennis.

The Williams sisters from U.S. are living proofs of this fact. Venus
and Serena Williams bagged several championship titles individually.
Serena, the younger of the two sisters, shook the scene in 2002 when
she got the championship title against Justine Henin, who is currently
the top female tennis player. Venus, on the other hand, is recorded to
be the fastest female server with 129 mph. The two are known for their
power games; and both sisters reached the World's No.1 Player title in
their early 20s. After six years in the tennis spotlight, the sisters
still managed to enter the top 10 female tennis players.

Justine Henin of Belgium is the current reigning World's No. 1 player
in women's tennis.  She has bagged titles almost from all the
tournament categories by WTA, including the Sony Ericsson
Championships giving her $3,000,000 prize money. She had also nailed
titles in the French Open, U.S. Open, Australian Open and the 2004
Olympics. Henin is known for her strategies involving mental toughness
and great combination of her one-handed backhand and footwork in a
game. Her one-handed backhand is known as the best one-handed backhand
ever seen in the female and male tennis categories.

Russia holds pride on its women tennis players. As of November 7,
2007, ranking shows three Russian players to enter the top 10 female
tennis players: Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is No.1 Russian player on the
Tour; Maria Sharapova, who is also known as the world's highest paid
female athlete in 2006; and Anna Chakvetadze. The three snatched the
2nd, 6th and 7th place respectively.

Serbia also proves their female power by grabbing the 3rd and the 4th
place in the top 10 female tennis players for 2007. These are Jelena
Janković and Ana Ivanović. These two consistently take slots in the
top players in women's tennis.

These are just some information for women's tennis. This information
just concentrated on the top ten players of 2007. However, since the
public, particularly the female athletes worldwide, becomes more
exposed and more welcomed to this sport, it is believed that more
names will sprout in the future in this mind and body game.

Can't get enough of this information about women's tennis? A lot of
information may be gathered now in the Web; but guess what: you can
get ahead of the game before it even starts.

Get the information that you need to know; see and learn their moves
for yourself without the hassle of getting your feet on the tennis
court. By just visiting SexyAthletes.net, you'll see the real rush of
how women conquer sports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
---------------------------

www.SexyAthletes.net offers you detailed information on world-renowned
female tennis players - from their skills and how they actually do
their game. A compilation of photos and videos of your favorite female
players are all in one site giving you a more realistic feel on how
the game is done.

www.SexyAthletes.net gets you one step ahead of the game before you
even learn the actual sport. Know a lot more about female athletes;
see how they look and how they do it; and learn how winners do it.

Are there any other forum boards that you know that are like this? ,
absolutely love the board!

>From: WorldTennisUK <worldtennisuk@...>
>Reply-To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
>To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] Re: Jelena Dokic's new coach:
>Dado Majoli!
>Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 10:35:29 +0000 (GMT)
>
>Check out the Women’s Sports Photos Forum at
>http://1.myfreebulletinboard.com/wta.html. It has some very sexy photos of
>Jelena and many other tennis players.
>
>WorldTennisUK
>Moderator of the Womens Sports Photos Forum
>The home of high quality photos of the best and sexiest female athletes in
>the world (tennis, athletics, gymnastics, beach volleyball, etc.)
>
>
>----- Original Message ----
>From: tai kumi <initial_start@...>
>To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
>Sent: Tuesday, 23 May, 2006 9:18:54 AM
>Subject: Re: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] Re: Jelena Dokic's new coach:
>Dado Majoli!
>
>
>you know any good sites that have hot jelena dokic pictures like training
>butt shots and anything like that?
>
>
> >From: "DanH" <dhammo@...>
> >Reply-To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
> >To: <Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] Re: Jelena Dokic's new coach:
> >Dado Majoli!
> >Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 14:22:48 -0400
> >
> >This is the link that would not work:
> >
> >http://www.jelena-online.tk/
> >
> >Tried going through Google and Yahoo search engines too and it would not
> >connect. Thnx
> >
> >~ Stop & Smell the Roses ~
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: andrewbroad
> >To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
> >Sent: Monday, 22 May, 2006 7:40 AM
> >Subject: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] Re: Jelena Dokic's new coach: Dado
> >Majoli!
> >
> >
> >DanH wrote:
> > >
> > > Do you have another link? This one does not work. Thnx
> >
> >Which link? All links in the message below work for me (using
> >Internet Explorer 6 with the domains below in Trusted sites).
> >
> >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: andrewbroad
> > > To: Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com
> > > Sent: Sunday, 21 May, 2006 8:10 PM
> > > Subject: [Jelena Dokic Players Lounge] Jelena Dokic's new coach:
> > > Dado Majoli!
> > >
> > >
> > > From http://www.jelena-online.tk/
> > > >>>
> > > CONFIRMED: Dado Majoli coaches Jelena Dokic!
> > > 21.05.2006. (Jelena Dokic LiVE, Jutarnji list)
> > >
> > > Serbian tennis player Jelena Dokic, after an ineffectual
> > > professional cooperation with Borna Bikic from Zagreb, will try to
> > > return on WTA list by Dado Majoli, brother of former world number
> > > 4, Iva Majoli. It's good news for young Jelena, who had serious
> > > private problems after starting successes in her professional
> > > tennis career.
> > >
> > > Dado Majoli coaches Jelena two months already, and results of its
> > > cooperation we will see at the beginning of June, when she starts
> > > with new tennis' battles again.
> > >
> > > "Jelena has trained at Iva Majoli's tennis centre, our meeting was
> > > suddenly. We was scheduled a probationary cooperation that last two
> > > months already. When we be sure that it will be productive we'll
> > > conclude an agreement," told Dado Majoli for Croatian Jutarnji list
> > > and added that next for Jelena is a small tournament, most likely
> > > on clay.
> > >
> > > We find that organizers of Croatian Ladies Open plans to give
> > > Jelena a wild card. This tournament starts on 12th June 2006.
> > > There is chance if she begins with wins again to get a wild card
> > > for Wimbledon, too.
> > >
> > > We observed how Jelena is "dangerously" near by form of her best
> > > career days, she follows advices of Dado 100% and uses last atoms
> > > of herself to hit fantastic strokes after few hours of strenuous
> > > training.
> > >
> > > Complete text by Croatian Jutarnji list
> > > <<<
> > >
> > > Andrew's reaction: This is exciting news for me as a fan of both
> > > Jelena and Iva! Dado was one of Iva's main coaches when she was
> > > playing (1990-2004).
> > >
> > > BTW, the "Croatian Ladies Open" of 12th June 2006 is ITF Zagreb.
> > > The tournament-director is none other than Iva herself! :-)
> > > http://makeashorterlink.com/?P3CD4342D
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dr. Andrew Broad
> > > http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
> > > http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
> > > http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/
> > > http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/majoli/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >SPONSORED LINKS Racquets yonex  Tennis player
> >
> >
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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> >YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> >
> >   a..  Visit your group "Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge" on the web.
> >
> >   b..  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >    Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >   c..  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> >Service.
> >
> >
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-
> >
> >
> >No virus found in this incoming message.
> >Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.6.1/344 - Release Date: 05/19/06
> >
> >
> >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>New year, new job – there's more than 100,00 jobs at SEEK
>http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fninemsn%2Eseek%2Ecom%2Eau&_t=75\
2315885&_r=Jan05_tagline&_m=EXT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Join the millions of Australians using Live Search. Try live.com.au
http://ninemsn.com.au/share/redir/adTrack.asp?mode=click&clientID=740&referral=m\
illion&URL=http://live.com.au

Thanks for all your effort.

--- In Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge@yahoogroups.com, andrewbroad
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> I regret to announce my semi-retirement from writing tennis-
reports,
> with immediate (and indeed retrospective) effect.
>
> I have just started a new job which means that I will have many
fewer
> hours to pursue my hobbies than I did before, and there is no way
> that I would be able to sustain the effort currently required to
> research and write my lengthy reports.
>
> Just as tennis-players don't make it without hard work and
> sacrifices, so too must I work hard and make sacrifices to
progress
> my career as a computer-scientist.
>
> It pains me greatly to make this decision, but it's something I
did
> foresee when I made my vow for each member of my Eternal Fanship:
> >>>
> From now on, and until the end of her career (or my life), I will
> follow her with the same level of dedication as the players of
whom
> I'm already an Eternal Fan, to the maximum extent that my personal
> circumstances and available resources will allow.
> <<<
>
> The maximum extent that my circumstances and resources now allow
is
> the following:
>
> 1. I will continue to update the Matchographies on my website.
>
> 2. I will continue to update the Biographies on my website at the
end
> of each year.
>
> 3. During the French Open, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Wimbledon,
> Australian Open, and the Olympics, I will follow these tournaments
> with the same dedication as I did before. But I will not be doing
any
> more /extended/ reports for these tournaments (except the ones
that I
> actually attend).
>
> 4. I will follow other tournaments privately, without posting
> reports. This even includes the US Open, which is not televised on
> any channels to which I have access, and is therefore not worth
> demanding two weeks' extra leave for.
>
> --
> Dr. Andrew Broad
> http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
> http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
> http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge_II/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/
>

I regret to announce my semi-retirement from writing tennis-reports,
with immediate (and indeed retrospective) effect.

I have just started a new job which means that I will have many fewer
hours to pursue my hobbies than I did before, and there is no way
that I would be able to sustain the effort currently required to
research and write my lengthy reports.

Just as tennis-players don't make it without hard work and
sacrifices, so too must I work hard and make sacrifices to progress
my career as a computer-scientist.

It pains me greatly to make this decision, but it's something I did
foresee when I made my vow for each member of my Eternal Fanship:
>>>
From now on, and until the end of her career (or my life), I will
follow her with the same level of dedication as the players of whom
I'm already an Eternal Fan, to the maximum extent that my personal
circumstances and available resources will allow.
<<<

The maximum extent that my circumstances and resources now allow is
the following:

1. I will continue to update the Matchographies on my website.

2. I will continue to update the Biographies on my website at the end
of each year.

3. During the French Open, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Wimbledon,
Australian Open, and the Olympics, I will follow these tournaments
with the same dedication as I did before. But I will not be doing any
more /extended/ reports for these tournaments (except the ones that I
actually attend).

4. I will follow other tournaments privately, without posting
reports. This even includes the US Open, which is not televised on
any channels to which I have access, and is therefore not worth
demanding two weeks' extra leave for.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge_II/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/

I have just updated Jelena's biography on my website:
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/biography.html

It is *not* a copy of Jelena's standard WTA Tour biography, but my
own detailed appreciation of her game, followed by a review for every
year of her career. I have edited the introduction, and added a
review of 2006.

I wish Jelena and all her fans a happy new year.


New Jelena photos from Gloria magazine:
http://marijanacdusan.on.neobee.net/english/

Article about Jelena leaving the Pilic academy and returning to her
former coach, Borna Bikic:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20889541-23216,00.html

Article about an alleged attack on Jelena at Zagreb:
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,20938522-23216,00.html

Jelena on WTA Backspin by Todd Spiker (negative but fascinating!):
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yzj2yb

It's sad to have to read more about bizarre incidents and rumours
than news about Jelena playing tennis these days. Particularly in the
last couple of years, there's been enough material for a whole new
soap-opera! ;-)

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/dokic/ (+2 external links)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jelena_Dokic_Players_Lounge_II/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/