Dr. Andrew Broad
Tennis
Jelena Dokic
Australian Open 2009 Match-Reports

• First round: Tamira Paszek (coming soon - ETA 25th December 2009)
• Second round: Anna Chakvetadze (coming soon - ETA 27th December 2009)
• Third round: Caroline Wozniacki* (added 1st March 2009)
• Fourth round: Alisa Kleybanova* (added 8th March 2009)
• Quarter-final: Dinara Safina* (added 21st March 2009)

Photos:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7836743.stm (first round)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7841385.stm (second round)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7843853.stm (off-court - Thursday 22nd January 2009)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7849577.stm (fourth round)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852626.stm (quarter-finals)

WOMEN'S SINGLES

My preview (as I wrote it at the time)

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 Am�lie 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.

My 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 Hantuchov� 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 Aliz� 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 Cibulkov� 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.

Prematch articles

Australian Open: Day 5 Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2909
>>>
Rod Laver Arena
(11) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - First meeting

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)

Pick: Caroline Wozniacki in two sets.
<<<

Can Dokic soar ever further?
By Bruce Eva (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
The phrase 'emotional rollercoaster' can be used when tracking the progress of many combatants across a variety of sports.

This is the first time Dokic has made it to the last 32 in a Major since Wimbledon 2003, when Maria Sharapova, as a wildcard, bundled her out in two tight sets. Those statistics alone ensure that Rod Laver Arena will again be humming with expectation when Dokic strides from the players' tunnel.
<<<

My TV-report

+ 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!

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!

Jelena: "I battled severe depression for about two years. Didn't play for months at a time. 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."

Prematch routine

The match was first on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session, and was televised on BBC Red Button - the first Jelena-match that the BBC has televised since Wimbledon 2004!

Both players were interviewed in the corridor to Rod Laver Arena:

INTERVIEWER: Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark, seeded 11. Now Caroline, you've dropped just 11 games to get this far. You're in great form.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: "Yeah, I mean: I feel like I've played well so far, so it's another task, and it's gonna be tough one, you know, with all the crowd probably against me, but it's gonna be fun."

INTERVIEWER: Well, good luck.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Thank you.

INTERVIEWER: Her opponent: Jelena Dokic. Jelena, it's a packed house in there again tonight. Another exciting night ahead for you.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, erm, you know, I have nothing to lose tonight. Erm, even my ??special meeting?? in my second round. So, er, all I try to do is enjoy it as much as I can, and try to put up a good match.

INTERVIEWER: Play well.

JELENA DOKIC: <big smile> Thank.

Both girls look very pretty! Jelena got a huge cheer as she walked onto court.

Jelena called heads, but it was tails, so Wozniacki won the toss and elected to serve.

Wozniacki looks very fetching in a bare-shouldered yellow top that also hikes up to show her midriff every time she hits a serve or forehand! She's also wearing a grey skirt and a white visor.

Whereas Jelena - who gave me my midriff- and shoulder-fetishes with the skimpy kits she wore in 2001 - is wearing a closed-shouldered white shirt that doesn't hike up to show her midriff so much, with a cyan skirt. I guess she must be more modest now that she's middle-aged (in tennis-terms) and more religious! ;-)

BBC commentator Sam Smith had an interesting story about Caroline's father: Piotr Wozniacki. Apparently he changed his name to Viktor Krazon <sp?> to please his dying mother.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:40 AEDT): "Lovely timing from Mr. Bevan [the previous online commentator] there, leaving the chair just as Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Dokic head out to kick off Friday's night-session. Wozniacki, in particular, looks very excited. Maybe she, like me, is in a hurry to get this match over so we can all watch Marat Safin (and Roger Federer)..."
����������� (19:43 AEDT) "Don't get me wrong though. I am actually quite intrigued by this match. Good to see Jelena Dokic back in the big time, while Caroline Wozniacki is the women's tour's rising star. She has quite a sizeable male fan-club too."

First set

DOKIC  *   * *  3
WOZNI * *@* * * 6

The match started at 19:46 AEDT.

Wozniacki serving 0-0: In a long baseline-rally, Jelena began to spread Wozniacki, and got a dead-netcord forehand winner. 0/15. Jelena on the fourth stroke hit a backhand just long. 15/15. Ace out wide: in the corner. 30/15. Another long rally, with Jelena standing just behind the baseline and Wozniacki way behind it, ended with Wozniacki netting a backhand. 30/30. Wozniacki hit a backhand long off a short ball from Jelena. 30/40 (BP #1). Jelena netted a backhand return. 40/40. Near ace down the middle was called wide. Second serve: Jelena netted a cheap forehand return. Ad Wozniacki. She overhit a crosscourt forehand just long. Deuce #2. Wozniacki netted a backhand. Ad Jelena (BP #2). Jelena's backhand clipped the netcord and fell back on her side. Deuce #3. Jelena chopped a forehand return into the net. Ad Wozniacki. Jelena netted another cheap forehand return.

Already Jelena has the baggage of missed break-points.

Early impression: long baseline-rallies when they get going, but Jelena netted too many returns in that game. I'll have to keep an eye on how far behind the baseline they stand, because Jelena looks the more aggressive player so far.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:55 AEDT): "Of course, if it's variety you're after, you'll be better off dusting off a video of Bruce Forsyth's Live at the Palladium, because you can be sure Dokic and Wozniacki will be standing steadfastly at the baseline, whacking the ball at each other for the next hour or so. Wozniacki has held her opening service-game, but only after a monumental struggle."

Jelena serving 0-1: Wozniacki netted a forehand. 15/0. Double fault (second serve long). 15/15. Jelena forced a short ball, ran around her backhand beautifully, and hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand. 30/15. Jelena played a nice spreading rally, but her crosscourt forehand onto the sideline was called wide. She challenged it, and Hawk-Eye showed that it clipped the sideline by about 30%, so they had to replay the point. Ace out wide: right in the corner. 40/15. Wozniacki hit a big backhand winner down the line. 40/30. Jelena's forehand clipped the netcord and fell short, and Wozniacki hit a "very smart" short-angled crosscourt forehand winner just inside the sideline. 40/40. Wozniacki's deep backhand return induced Jelena to hit an off-backhand wide. Ad Wozniacki (BP). Jelena stranded Wozniacki with a crosscourt backhand, and hit a pinpoint backhand winner down the line: just inside the baseline. Deuce #2. Jelena took the initiative with a crosscourt backhand, and hit another one back behind Wozniacki for a winner. Ad Jelena. Deep first serve: Wozniacki netted a forehand return, and wasted a challenge on that serve.

Very relieved for Jelena to get that game after saving break-point. My worst fear is that she's going to get hammered out here, so getting on the scoreboard early was essential.

Wozniacki serving 1-1: An intriguing rally with both girls at the net: first Wozniacki came in behind an off-forehand, and hit a backhand drop-volley; Jelena ran it down and hit a crosscourt forehand; Wozniacki's forehand volley clipped the netcord (the crowd started "ooh"ing and "aah"ing); Jelena let it bounce and hit a forehand, and Wozniacki hit a forehand lob-winner over Jelena's head. 15/0. Jelena netted a backhand. 30/0. Ace out wide. 40/0. Wozniacki hit a short, kicking second serve out wide: Jelena went for a down-the-line backhand return-winner onto the junction of sideline and baseline, but the umpire called it long.

Chris Bailey talked about Jelena's "reapproval" in the hearts and minds of the Australian public. They now recognise that she was controlled by her father Damir when she switched from Australian to Yugoslav nationality on the eve of the Australian Open 2001. Jelena has made a complete break from her father now, but unfortunately he had control of all her prize-money from the earlier part of her career, and now gets to keep it all (I don't suppose she'll even be able to inherit it back from him).

Jelena serving 1-2: Deep first serve out wide: Wozniacki netted a forehand return. 15/0. Jelena forehand long - off a deep crosscourt backhand from Wozniacki. 15/15. Jelena hit a scorching crosscourt backhand deep into the corner, forcing Wozniacki into error. 30/15. Jelena on the third stroke netted a forehand. 30/30. Deep crosscourt forehand return: Jelena forehand long. 30/40 (BP). Jelena netted a wild backhand on the third stroke.

Sam Smith said Wozniacki would be "too consistent from the baseline" for Jelena, and Chris Bailey said she would be "too battle-hardened".

Wozniacki serving 3-1: Jelena netted a forehand return. 15/0. Jelena's crosscourt forehand + pinpoint forehand down the line forced Wozniacki to bunt a backhand lob wide. 15/15. Jelena on the fourth stroke hit a forehand just long. 30/15. Wozniacki's deep forehand down the line - on the baseline - forced Jelena to earth a backhand. 40/15. Jelena painted the sideline with a down-the-line forehand winner. 40/30. Jelena came to the net and hit a beautiful off-backhand drop-volley winner that skimmed like a stone over water. 40/40. Wozniacki backhand long. Ad Jelena (BP). Wozniacki challenged a ball from Jelena on the baseline, and Hawk-Eye showed that it clipped about 10% of the baseline. Wozniacki forced a short ball and hit an off-forehand winner. Deuce #2. Ace out wide: on the sideline. Ad Wozniacki. Jelena played a good spreading rally: her off-forehand forced Wozniacki to hit a defensive one-handed backhand lob, which Jelena dispatched with a forehand smash-winner. Deuce #3. Deep first serve forced Jelena to hit a backhand lob-return long. Ad Wozniacki. Jelena blasted a wild crosscourt backhand return just wide.

Sam Smith said Jelena was right to go for her shots, "because if she doesn't strike, Wozniacki will."

A large-looking deficit, but the games have been long and deucy, and it's just the one break.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:09 AEDT): "Massive support for Jelena Dokic: the Serb-turned-Australian-turned-Serb-turned-Australian. Tight contest with plenty of deuces, but 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki is winning the vital points."

Jelena serving 1-4: A very anxious look on Jelena's face as she prepared to serve. A deep forehand from Wozniacki forced Jelena way behind the baseline to net a forehand. 0/15. Jelena came to the net, stranding Wozniacki with a crosscourt backhand, and hit an off-backhand drop-volley winner. 15/15. Jelena crosscourt forehand + crosscourt forehand winner back behind Wozniacki. 30/15. Jelena netted a down-the-line forehand. 30/30. Jelena opened the point with a first serve down the middle + crosscourt forehand - both of which forced defensive lobs from Wozniacki, but the second lob was very deep, forcing Jelena to retreat behind the baseline and lose her initiative; a long baseline-rally ensued, which ended with Wozniacki dumping a wild down-the-line backhand halfway up the net. 40/30. First serve out wide: crosscourt backhand return just wide.

Chris Bailey said Jelena should be aiming not just to get back in the top 50 this year, but top 30 - "more than realistic".

Wozniacki serving 4-2: Wozniacki's dropshot forced Jelena to net a backhand. 15/0. Wozniacki hit a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: almost on the junction of sideline and baseline! 30/0. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell wide of the centre-line). 30/15. Jelena spread Wozniacki, but Wozniacki's defence was too strong, and she exploited a huge gap to Jelena's right with a backhand winner down the line. 40/15. Jelena's penetrating crosscourt forehand forced Wozniacki to stretch and net a forehand. 40/30. Jelena netted a forehand.

Too many errors from Jelena, and Wozniacki is ultraconsistent from the baseline - only occasionally spectacular, but I can see how she must frustrate even the top players.

Jelena serving 2-5: Wozniacki forehand return long. 15/0. Service-winner out wide. 30/0. Service-winner out wide. 40/0. Serve out wide + pinpoint backhand winner down the line: on the sideline.

What an emphatic service-game! It puts the pressure on Wozniacki to serve for the set much sooner than she probably expected.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:21 AEDT): "Jelena Dokic steps up and wallops a backhand winner past Caroline Wozniacki, and the Dane will now have to serve for the set."

Wozniacki serving 5-3: Jelena stranded Wozniacki with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: just inside the sideline. 0/15. Wozniacki's forehand appeared to hit the baseline, but was just long and she knew it. 0/30. Jelena hit a cracking crosscourt backhand return-winner! 0/40 (BP #1). Wozniacki saved it with a combination of moonballing and mild spreading, inducing Jelena to hit a crosscourt forehand wide. 15/40 (BP #2). Jelena dumped a choky backhand halfway up the net. 30/40 (BP #3). Jelena's forehand return was called long; she challenged it, stood with her hands on her hips, and Hawk-Eye showed that it missed the baseline by about 5% of the width of the baseline. 40/40. Ace down the middle. Ad Wozniacki (SP #1). Jelena looked like she was chewing on wasps. Ace out wide. Wozniacki won the first set 6-3 at 20:26 AEDT (40 minutes).

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:26 AEDT): "Jelena Dokic plays her best tennis of the set to earn three break-back points, but she then seems to panic a bit, and overcooks a few shots. Wozniacki gets back to deuce, and then thumps down two aces to take the set."

Chris Bailey: "That was a very mature recovery from 0/40."
Sam Smith: "That's why she'll be top five, because she's got the mind to go with the physique. She's not one-dimensional in any respect at all. She thinks her way around the court. Jelena Dokic has played on many more stadium-courts than Wozniacki has, but last year Wozniacki was playing on the main tour while Jelena was playing on the ITF circuit, and you can't replace that."

The difference between the two is that Jelena is more spectacular but makes unforced errors, whereas virtually all Wozniacki's errors are semi-forced at worst.

Second set

DOKIC * *@*@* 6
WOZNI  *      1

Jelena serving 0-0: Wozniacki netted a forehand return. 15/0. Jelena cleaned the sideline with a crosscourt backhand, and three strokes later hit a crosscourt backhand virtual winner. 30/0. Jelena sprayed a wild crosscourt backhand wide. 30/15. Beautiful footwork by Jelena as she got back for a Wozniacki-lob, and Jelena's off-forehand induced Wozniacki to hit a backhand just long. 40/15. Double fault (second serve long). 40/30. Jelena sprayed a backhand long. 40/40. Jelena hit a flairsome crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. Ad Jelena. Her crosscourt forehand induced Wozniacki to hit a forehand halfway up the net.

Wozniacki serving 0-1: Pinpoint first serve down the middle - right in the corner - forced Jelena to net a backhand return. 15/0. Jelena hit a loose backhand wide. 30/0. Wozniacki hit a down-the-line backhand winner back behind Jelena. 40/0. First serve out wide forced Jelena into the tramlines to net a backhand.

Sam Smith: "Wozniacki's backhand is world class, and there's safety built in too."

Jelena serving 1-1: Wozniacki off-backhand wide. 15/0. Jelena opened up the court with a first serve out wide, but hit a down-the-line backhand just long. 15/15. Jelena forced a defensive lob, set up for it with lots of little steps, and hit a forehand smash-winner off the bounce. 30/15. First serve down the middle: Wozniacki netted a forehand return. 40/15. Deep first serve out wide: Wozniacki netted a forehand return.

A steadying hold for Jelena after Sam Smith said she tended to get down on herself too quickly these days.

Sam Smith: "Probably the most impressive [in the women's event so far] is Vera Zvonar�va - I know it's not fashionable to say so - and probably the most disappointing so far is Ivanovic."

Wozniacki serving 1-2: I'm convinced that Wozniacki's forehand on the third stroke caught the baseline, but it was called long, wasn't challenged, and Jelena looked surprised. 0/15. Jelena crosscourt backhand + off-forehand winner back behind Wozniacki. Sam Smith: "Wozniacki has to watch her length, because when Dokic starts steamrollering, the winners start flowing." 0/30. Wozniacki opened the point with a big first serve down the middle + short-angled crosscourt backhand just inside the sideline to force a defensive lob from Jelena, but Wozniacki hit a forehand smash just long - although again I'm surprised she didn't challenge, because it looked like it may well have caught the baseline for a winner! 0/40 (BP). Jelena broke with a pinpoint backhand down the line, forcing Wozniacki to net a forehand - and I love Jelena's footwork as she set up for that backhand off a floater from Wozniacki: lots of little steps.

Sam Smith: "What helps Jelena is that she knows how to play at this level."

Jelena serving 3-1: Wozniacki came to the net, but Jelena hit a crosscourt backhand pass-winner that clipped the netcord. 15/0. Wozniacki forced a short ball and hit a crosscourt forehand winner. 15/15. Wozniacki crosscourt forehand just wide. 30/15. Jelena hit a wild crosscourt backhand just wide. 30/30. Jelena's backhand clipped the netcord and dropped dead for a winner. She apologised with her palm, and was "the first player who looks sorry it hit the net" [Chris Bailey]. 40/30. Wozniacki's forehand floated just long, and Jelena pumped her fist.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:42 AEDT): "Jelena Dokic looks pained as one of her shots clips the net and dribbles over. The crowd don't care, though. Dokic is on a roll, and consolidates the break of serve."

Sam Smith said Wozniacki was the most impressive young player, followed by Victoria Azarenka, who hits harder. She said they were ahead of Agnieszka Radwanska, who lacks power.

Wozniacki serving 1-4: Wozniacki backhand just long. 0/15. Wozniacki came to the net, but lacked conviction and netted a forehand volley that "should be consigned to the dustbin" [Chris Bailey]. 0/30. Jelena hit a crosscourt backhand just inside the baseline, forcing Wozniacki to net a backhand. 0/40 (BP). Wozniacki pounced on a short return with a crosscourt forehand winner. 15/40 (BP #2). Jelena broke again with a forehand return-winner down the line: just inside the baseline! She celebrated with a yell and a fist-pump.

Wow - Jelena is so hot at the moment, the ball singing off the centre of her racket-head every time!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:46 AEDT): "It's like 1999 all over again! Jelena Dokic breaks to love, and she'll serve to take this into a decider. To celebrate being back under the Aussie flag, Dokic has developed a Lleyton-Hewitt-style celebration. It's a fist in the air and pull down - as if switching the bathroom-light on. Try it at home if you like."

Jelena serving 5-1: Wozniacki netted a forehand. 15/0. Wozniacki bunted a forehand long. 30/0. Wozniacki came to the net, but so did Jelena to hit a lovely gliding backhand volley-winner! 40/0 (SP #1). Wozniacki saved it with a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: on the baseline. 40/15 (SP #2). Wozniacki forehand long. Jelena won the second set 6-1 at 20:48 AEDT (second set 22m, match so far 1h02m).

Wow - I can't believe how quickly this match has turned around - "full of power, accuracy and depth from Dokic" [Chris Bailey]. Based on Jelena's second-set performance, I'd probably induct her into my Eternal Fanship if she wasn't there already!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:49 AEDT): "What a story this is. Dokic - currently ranked 187th - takes the second set against the 11th seed with some bludgeoning groundstrokes."

Wozniacki took a bathroom-break between the second and third sets (as did I).

Can Jelena keep up this stunning form and get the win, or will her bubble burst? I think there will be tears after this one either way!

Sam Smith: "I just feel the young Dane is playing catch-up in some of these points, as if she's anxious about how much she should go for it. She's going have to step up if she's going to win this match. Dokic hits a flatter ball, and it gets through the court better. Wozniacki almost has a little too much topspin on her shots: just sitting up for Dokic."

Third set

DOKIC @  *@*@* 6
WOZNI  @*      2

Wozniacki serving 0-0 (new balls): Jelena on the third stroke sprayed a wild crosscourt backhand wide. 15/0. Wozniacki forehand just long. 15/15. A long rally ended with Jelena netting a forehand. 30/15. Jelena hit a down-the-line forehand winner onto the baseline. 30/30. Jelena stranded Wozniacki with a crosscourt backhand, and hit a fearsome backhand winner down the line. 30/40 (BP). Jelena spread Wozniacki, who felt she had to go for a bit more and hit a down-the-line backhand wide, giving Jelena the first break of this final set.

Jelena is absolutely on fire at the moment! It's the same magic that demolished Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 at Wimbledon 1999. Chris Bailey said Jelena would have won a Major if it hadn't been for her personal problems - and the Williams-sisters, of course.

Jelena serving 1-0: Jelena forehand long off a deep ball from Wozniacki. 0/15. Wozniacki netted a forehand. 15/15. First serve down the middle + crosscourt backhand winner onto the sideline. 30/15. Service-winner out wide. 40/15. Double fault #3 (second serve into the net). 40/30. Jelena dumped a backhand halfway up the net. 40/40. Wozniacki's forehand return hit the baseline and shot through into Jelena's body, forcing her to hit an off-backhand wide. Ad Wozniacki (BP #1). Jelena forced a high floater, let it bounce, and hit a forehand winner down the line. Deuce #2. Jelena netted a forehand. Ad Wozniacki (BP #2). Jelena crosscourt backhand + pinpoint backhand down the line forced Wozniacki to net a forehand - such power and accuracy from Jelena! Deuce #3. Wozniacki came to the net, inducing Jelena to net a backhand. Sam Smith: "You have to make Wozniacki volley." Ad Wozniacki (BP #3). Jelena hit a backhand long to give Wozniacki the break back.

The bubble burst at 40/15. I hope that double fault won't feature too prominently in my match-summary!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:02 AEDT): "Dokic has points for a 2-0 lead, but Wozniacki digs very deep to level up. Long way to go there."

Wozniacki serving 1-1: A netcord from Jelena gave Wozniacki the initiative: she hit a crosscourt forehand and went to the net, inducing Jelena to hit a forehand lob long. 15/0. First serve: Jelena netted a forehand return. 30/0. Jelena's flat, low-bouncing backhand return forced Wozniacki to bend her knees very low and hit a backhand very long. 30/15. Jelena netted a backhand. 40/15. Jelena hit a backhand return-winner down Wozniacki's backhand-sideline. 40/30. First serve: Jelena hit a forehand return low up the net.

Ana Ivanovic is currently 5-7 0-3* down against Alisa Kleybanova on the Hisense Arena - the winner of that match will meet the winner of this match in the fourth round.

Jelena serving 1-2: Jelena hit a cracking crosscourt forehand winner just inside the sideline. 15/0. Jelena forced a short ball, and dispatched it with a crosscourt forehand winner. 30/0. Jelena forehand long. 30/15. Jelena found the back edge of the baseline with a crosscourt forehand winner. 40/15. Jelena forehand long. 40/30. Jelena hit an off-forehand just long, and looked to her corner and the umpire before deciding not to challenge. 40/40. Jelena forced a defensive lob, and hit a crosscourt forehand drive-volley winner. Ad Jelena. Wozniacki went for a down-the-line backhand, but put it just wide.

Sam Smith: "I'm surprised how conservative Wozniacki has been out here. It's in Dokic's hands - and I didn't think I'd be saying that after the first set. Wozniacki is just waiting for Dokic to miss, and that's a dangerous gamble."

Ana Ivanovic has broken back once for 5-7 2-3*.

Wozniacki serving 2-2: Jelena's flat, low-bouncing forehand return forced Wozniacki down on one knee to hit a forehand long. 0/15. Jelena's backhand down the line forced Wozniacki to net a forehand. 0/30. Jelena came to the net, but hit a backhand volley long. 15/30. Jelena forced a very short lob from Wozniacki, but hit a crosscourt forehand just wide. Chris Bailey: "That could be a huge miss from Dokic." 30/30. Jelena netted a backhand off a deep ball from Wozniacki. 40/30. Jelena forced a short ball from Wozniacki, and Jelena's forehand forced Wozniacki into error. 40/40. Wozniacki forehand just long. Ad Jelena (BP). Jelena hit a sweeping crosscourt backhand return onto the baseline; Wozniacki bunted back a very short crosscourt backhand lob that landed on the sideline; Jelena replied with a cute short-angled crosscourt backhand, leaving the court wide open to her right, but Wozniacki didn't find the obvious backhand winner down the line, instead just pushing it back at a safe angle; Jelena made Wozniacki run with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a backhand winner down the line - back behind Wozniacki. Jelena leaned back and and shook her fists in joy at the break.

Sam Smith: "Even six months ago, if Dokic had missed that forehand wide, she'd have got down on herself very quickly. Her confidence is very strong at the moment."

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:16 AEDT): "Jelena Dokic is huffing and puffing. No surprise as she hasn't played at this level for a long time. But she's still a break up in the third."

Jelena serving 3-2: Double fault (second serve into the net). Don't let the bubble burst again! 0/15. Service-winner. 15/15. Wozniacki forehand long. 30/15. Wozniacki forehand just long. 40/15. Ace down the middle: just inside the centre-line.

Wozniacki's forehand has gone AWOL, and that's a very good sign for Jelena!

Ana Ivanovic has broken back a second time for 5-7 *3-3. What a mouthwatering fourth-round match Jelena v Ana would be!

Wozniacki serving 2-4: Wozniacki forehand long. She changed her racket. 0/15. Wozniacki netted a forehand. 0/30. A deep ball from Jelena forced Wozniacki way behind the baseline to net a backhand. 0/40 (BP #1). Ace #7: out wide. 15/40 (BP #2). Jelena's forehand onto the baseline was called long but overruled by the umpire, so they had to replay the point. Jelena dominated the point with a deep forehand return + crosscourt backhand onto the sideline to force a defensive backhand lob from Wozniacki; Jelena's crosscourt forehand smash clipped the netcord; Wozniacki overran the ball and had to raise her left leg high because it was in the way of her forehand: a short floater that Jelena punished with another crosscourt forehand smash, forcing Wozniacki to hit a forehand lob wide. The crowd went wild, and Jelena celebrated the double break by yelling, doubling over and pumping her fists.

Sam Smith: "Where she's produced this performance from, I'm not sure: it's dug out of somewhere between 1999 and 2000, when she was really at her best. I'll tell you what she has done tonight: she's been gutsy. You'd never accuse Jelena Dokic of not having guts - in life, and on the tennis-court. And she's gone after it, and she's believed in her tennis against someone who has done so much more winning than herself in recent years."

The bad news is that Ana Ivanovic has gone a break down again: 5-7 3-4*.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:26 AEDT): "Another fist-pump from Dokic as Wozniacki's backhand flops into the net to give the Aussie three more break-points. On the second, she nails a forehand onto the baseline, which Wozniacki can't handle - but the lineswoman wrongly calls it out. They have to replay the point, much to Dokic's disgust. But no problem: she keeps her cool to win the next point, and after the changeover, she will serve for it."

Jelena serving 5-2: A long baseline-rally ended with Jelena's deep crosscourt forehand forcing Wozniacki to hit a crosscourt forehand wide. 15/0. Wozniacki hit a wild crosscourt backhand wide. She's done, I think. 30/0. Jelena spread Wozniacki with a sliced off-backhand + deep crosscourt backhand just inside the baseline + off-forehand that forced a short floater from Wozniacki; Jelena advanced up the court and hit an off-forehand + deep off-backhand volley + crosscourt backhand drive-volley winner. She shook her fist, then looked close to tears as - she revealed afterwards - the thought of victory entered her head for the first time. 40/0 (MP #1). Jelena on the third stroke netted a backhand. 40/15 (MP #2). Jelena netted a choky sliced backhand, and looked very anxious as she prepared for the next point. 40/30 (MP #3). In a long baseline-rally, Wozniacki retrieved very well, but Jelena took the initiative on the eleventh stroke with a deep crosscourt backhand onto the baseline to force a short, weak backhand from Wozniacki; Jelena hit a penetrating crosscourt forehand to force a short, weak forehand from Wozniacki; Jelena's crosscourt forehand forced Wozniacki to hit a defensive forehand lob long. Jelena won 3-6 6-1 6-2 at 21:29 AEDT (third set 41m, match 1h43m).

A huge cheer from the crowd. Wozniacki didn't hang around for long before she sloped off to the locker-room, where there would be weeping and grinding of teeth.

Big smiles from Jelena; she looked quite emotional as she sat in her chair after shaking hands and celebrating. Her eyes looked red, but I don't think she was actually crying this time.

Sam Smith: "A couple of years ago, she was hardly playing the game. Last year, she lost in qualifying. I'm not sure anyone believed that she would be good enough, and find enough level, and enough of the old Dokic to pull through against Caroline Wozniacki, who is one of the hottest players on the women's tour right now."

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:29 AEDT): "I've got to be honest: I've got a little tear in my eye. Jelena Dokic beats 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki 3-6 6-1 6-2. The Aussie crowd rise to applaud an extraordinary display by the 25-year-old, who earlier this week admitted she suffered from depression in her early career, and now does not speak to her father Damir."

Celibell on 606 (21:37 AEDT): "Caroline's backhand has really let her down today. And for a tall girl who moves well, she's doing a lot of standing still. That said, all the credit in the world to Dokic. It's wonderful seeing her back. And with Ivanovic in trouble, she could theoretically make the QFs."

Statistics

Jelena had a negative W:UE ratio of 31:38 (only the second set was positive - 7:6), while Wozniacki's was much worse at 16:27 (deteriorating from set to set - 12:8, 4:10, 0:9) - I don't think these statistics do justice to the match, but they emphasise that Jelena took much more of the initiative.

Jelena got 65% of her first serves in, winning 64% of the points when she did so, and 61% on second serve. These percentages were pretty similar from set to set, except that her second-serve winning-percentage peaked at 89% for the second set!

Wozniacki got 70% of her first serves in, but only won 57% of the points when she did so, and 42% on second serve. Her first-serve winning-percentage plummeted from 71% for the first set to 40% for the next two.

Wozniacki had the slightly faster fastest serve (109-108 mph), but Jelena's average service-speeds were considerably faster than Wozniacki's (first serve 101-98 mph, second serve 91-77 mph).

Jelena served 2 aces and 5 double faults, Wozniacki 7 aces (6 in the first set) and one double fault.

Jelena converted 5 of 13 BPs, while Wozniacki broke just twice from 5 BPs - a slightly higher conversion-rate than Jelena, but what does it matter when Jelena generated so many more opportunities for herself?
����������� Jelena converted 0 of 6 BPs in the first set while Wozniacki converted 1 of 2, but Jelena won the second by 2 breaks to 0 (without facing a BP), and the third by 3 breaks to 1.

Jelena won 8 of 13 points at the net (62%), Wozniacki 7 of 10 (70%).

In points, Jelena won 89-72 (first set 31-37, second set 25-12, third set 33-23).

Jelena's on-court interview

ALICIA MOLIK: Jelena... <Jelena walked towards her, and put her bag on the court> Jelena, well done. I wanna ask you a question, but I just, er, really wanna give you a hug first! Well done, sweetie! <She hugged Jelena, and gave her a little kiss on the cheek!> Mwah! Fantastic! Erm... tell me: what is going through your mind, and what is going through your body, because I can tell you right now, watching there: my feet are shaking, even now.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, erm, actually, losing the first set today went in my favour. Erm, we had a couple of close games, and erm, you know, from there on, after I lost the first set, I was happy, er, with the way I hung in there. She's, you know, nearly on the verge of getting into the top ten. Erm, and then I just had got that first break in the second set, and things just swung my way.

ALICIA MOLIK: You're playing number eleven in the world. She was playing fantastically well in the first set: you lost it. What did you draw upon? What were you thinking at that stage in the match? I mean: you could have easily have just... I don't know. <Big smile on Jelena's face> But you just fought back: that fighting spirit that I know so well from juniors. Tell me: how did you do it?

JELENA DOKIC: Erm, I felt comfortable rallying with her. Erm, I just thought I had to get my serve a little bit better, and my return - she served well in the first set. But like I said, the last two matches, it was hard not to think about the victory, and today I didn't think about it until the match-point, and I think that really got me through. And, erm, actually, I went into this match just thinking, you know, I wanna put in another good performance. And the crowd was so fantastic, erm, two nights ago. <loud cheer from the crowd>

ALICIA MOLIK: And... tell me, because I'd love to know - we haven't really caught up - but what have you learned about yourself during all these years that you've had away from the Tour and away from tennis?

JELENA DOKIC: Erm, I got on the Tour so early, erm, and, er, having those last few years off - it wasn't really off; it was really struggling with things - but I think I really matured, and in a way, I can say now, maybe it will work in my favour <voice breaking> to have had a tough couple of years, and, erm, I feel like I have really matured on the court, and really helps me on the court.

ALICIA MOLIK: Do you feel stronger?

JELENA DOKIC: Definitely. Erm... heh... yeah, I don't know. I have so many feelings and emotions going on right now, I've no idea what to say, so. <Bewildered look on her face>

ALICIA MOLIK: And... <loud cheering from the crowd> and erm... one last thing: I hope you're very proud of yourself, because the rest of Australia is, and certainly myself. But erm... I know, erm, Tennis Australia have been fantastic, so has Craig Tiley, and the great man is standing right over there. He gave you an opportunity in the wild-card play-off. Is there anything you may wanna say to him?

JELENA DOKIC: Erm, yeah. We've had... er, since 2001, things really went downhill, and erm, we had a tough couple of years, erm. Sorry for being a pain. <crowd-laughter>

ALICIA MOLIK: You don't need to be sorry, Jelena - you've done us proud.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I really made things difficult at times, and I apologise for that, but erm, Craig has been so great at giving me opportunities, erm, and really pushing me on. So, you know, I would like to say this victory is for me and my team, and it is, but it's more for, er... you know, I have to thank Craig and Tennis Australia and the whole Australian nation, really. This is for them, so. <loud cheer from the crowd>

ALICIA MOLIK: Thanks, Jelena. Well... well, Jelena, you came here as a girl, and you were a success. You're a grown woman, and you're still a success, so congratulations. Well done.

JELENA DOKIC: Thanks.

Molik kissed Jelena again at the end of the interview.

After the match

I just have goosebumps running through my body right now, although that could be due to the cold English morning I'm in! I feel really hyper!

I forgot about Ana Ivanovic in all that excitement! Alisa Kleybanova is now (21:35 AEDT) serving for the match at 7-5 *5-4 - serving to become Jelena's fourth-round opponent... Ana breaks back for 5-5*, holds for 6-5*... Kleybanova holds to force a tiebreak, and takes a 3/1* lead... *3/3... Ana *4/3, *4/4, 5/4*, 5/5*, *6/5... Ana wins the second set 7-6 (7/5) at 21:57 AEDT.
����������� Third set: Kleybanova leads 3-0*, then Ana breaks back for *2-3. However, Kleybanova reinstates her break immediately, and after a long delay with Ana about to serve at *2-5, she finds herself three match-points down at 0/40, and Kleybanova converts the second to win 7-5 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 at at 22:40 AEDT and become Jelena's fourth-round opponent.

Jelena's third-round press-conference

Source: www.australianopen.com

Q. Would you say that's the biggest win of your career to date?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, under the circumstances maybe. But I wouldn't say the biggest. Probably, yeah, the sweetest at the moment. It's a pretty big one for me, especially in the last couple [of] years.

Q. You said in your on-court interview that by losing the first set, it was a favour to you. What do you mean by that?

JELENA DOKIC: We started off the match - actually, I was surprised how well she was handling her game. Even though she got the early break, I felt pretty comfortable playing the match. I felt like I wasn't getting blown off the court.
����������� Then I lost the first set, and I don't know, I just kind of started to play better and swing easier. Yeah, I was able to get that first break in the second set, and things just kind of started turning around.

Q. When you're able to play that well against someone who's #11 in the world, what do you think that tells you about where you are in your redevelopment as a player?

JELENA DOKIC: For my second-round match, I said I was going into the match just to see at what level I'm at, and how I will handle a top-twenty player. I got that win and, you know, beat her today. She's been really on a great roll. She had a great 2008. She continued last week, and also nearly beat Serena [Williams].
����������� Yeah, I'm amazed at how well... she's on the verge of getting into the top ten. We can say she is a top-ten player. To be able to play these matches, be here with these girls, and also more amazing for me is physically that I'm able to play third sets like day in and day out with these girls - is amazing.
����������� It's only the start of the year. I think I can only get better from here.

Q. You seem to be more in charge of your emotions now, more comfortable with where you're at. Is it starting to sink in? Are you starting to become a believer in yourself and what you can do?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I had a tough couple of years. I got it in my mind that I'm starting from zero, just to see what I can do. I have a lot of experience, so that goes in my favour. Mentally, even before, I was a really strong person mentally. I won a lot of three-set matches. I was always there and fighting and never going away. That's kind of what I'm doing now.
����������� I think I have a better game than I used to. I really mix it up a lot and worked on my fitness. I still have a ways [sic] to go. Just feel like I'm a more mature player. That's why I'm able to put in more mature performances, too.

Q. You had a lot of build-up to it, and you've done a lot of work. Now that you're actually out on court and beating some of the top girls, what's that done for your confidence?

JELENA DOKIC: My confidence is really great at the moment. Like I said, to start the year like this, I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year. I think my goal was to be in the top fifty by the end of the year. I'm still, you know, keeping that and getting my head to getting to the top fifty.
����������� But I think I'm really on the right track. Confidence plays a huge part in a player's ability and their game. It plays a huge part in mine as well. I can only go up from here.

Q. When was the last time you felt such a buzz on a tennis-court that you obviously - by your reactions, both during and after the game - felt tonight?

JELENA DOKIC: I mean, it's been great. The crowd and playing on centre court is just really something else. It's kind of - that also lifted me up as well, especially after the match with Chakvetadze two nights ago.
����������� I actually went into the match today with absolutely no pressure. Even if I lost, I said the same two nights ago: I would have been happy with my performance.
����������� I missed some chances in the first set. Even if I lost the second set and the match, I wouldn't have been too disappointed. I'm there. I'm not struggling with their games, and they're not blowing me off the court. I'm moving well. I'm getting to a lot of balls, and I'm serving well as well.
����������� So there's nothing to be disappointed about, even when you lose here, because I think I'm showing that I can play at this level.

Q. Just the sense of excitement of being out there, and the emotions of being in...

JELENA DOKIC: It's huge at the moment. I don't think even after the first match, it was such a huge win for me. Like I said, when you have four or five months off, players struggle physically. You know, the lack of match-fitness is there. To come out after three years off, and be beating these players that play week and week - while they have been playing for the last three years, while I've been struggling with other things - is great.
����������� I don't think it's sunk in yet. I will not get too excited from here. My plans stay the same. I would like to play more tournaments, and still stick to the same goals that I have.

Q. Do you think it's to your advantage that these girls haven't played you before and don't know what to expect?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, but, you know, a lot of the girls that are still on tour have played me before. But I think I have - I play pretty aggressively and I hit the ball - I dictate and I hit the ball pretty hard.
����������� I think I improved a lot on my movement, and I'm able to mix it up more. I don't just hit up and down the court. I really kept her guessing as well tonight. That's why I think I won that third set.

Q. Are you surprised a little by yourself?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I am. Because, like I said, it's very hard to come after a couple years off, and to beat a girl who is #11 or #18 in the world is, yeah, amazing.
����������� So it's not quite sinking in yet, because I'm still playing. Yeah, I mean, I have absolutely no words. I couldn't have imagined a better start to the year or to play so well at a Grand Slam [sic].

Q. You were almost a little bit embarrassed when you apologised out there. Do you feel like you want to give a little bit back?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, look, we've had a lot of difficult situations. I think we all know that. I made it difficult for myself and Tennis Australia and Craig Tiley. There's no excuse for that, no matter what I was going through.
����������� Even my comments last year, when I arrived here two months ago, were out of line. But, you know, we're working on our relationship. Craig Tiley has been of tremendous help, and has given me chances over and over, and believed in me.
����������� So, yeah, it's been great how everyone has given me another chance. That goes to Tennis Australia, to all the coaches and everybody that works there, and the crowd obviously. I hope the people understand. That's all I can do.
����������� But, yeah, I've done some things that I'm not proud of. I cannot change that. I said that to everyone. I can just look forward from here, look into the future, and try to really work on things, and work on our relationship.

Q. Do you feel as if the country has forgiven you?

JELENA DOKIC: It feels like it when I'm out there, because the support is tremendous. You know, it's just almost - to me, it's a little bit too much and too loud at times. It's amazing that so many people are there. Even when I go on change of ends to sit down, people are screaming behind my back. It's really absolutely amazing.
����������� But I was so young. I wish I could change that, but I can't. I feel like things have kind of started to go in the right way. Hopefully we can keep it going.

Q. You talk about looking forward to the rest of the year. You're in the last 16 here. When can you start to dream anything is possible next week?

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said, I don't feel like I cannot be at my best. No practice can replace matches and tournaments. If I'm doing this well now, I mean, you can always expect to have a bad couple of months through the year. It's normal.
����������� I think playing like this, I'm showing I can play with those girls. So, yeah. I mean, like I said, my goal is still top fifty. I cannot go above that and say now I want to be top ten. I still have a lot of work to do. But considering that I think I'm not even at my 50%, 60%, I still think I have a long way to go with my fitness and even my game: my returns, my serve. Hopefully, by the looks of it, I can get even better. I'll just keep on working on that.

Q. For the rest of this week, though, do you let yourself dream you can go all the way?

JELENA DOKIC: My dream came true after the second round, really: to get a top-twenty win at a Grand Slam [sic]. But to do what I did tonight is great. Really absolutely no pressure. I mean, the same was said for today.
����������� So, yeah, even if I lose, it's nothing. I'm not supposed to really win. Even any point that I win in a match is a bonus for me. I can just try to play well.

Q. Just give us a slight insight into - your coach and your boyfriend were going delirious at the end - as to how that started, and how you hope it will carry on in the future.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, hopefully continue. We work...

Q. How did you actually get together with your coach?

JELENA DOKIC: It's been a long time. We've known each other for six years. It's not something that started two months ago. Yeah, hopefully we can keep it going. They're getting more and more emotional. Have to get that under control. More emotional than me.
����������� But I understand. Yeah, it's good. It's a good atmosphere altogether. I think we work well. We're both very explosive, so sometimes we're really at each other. It's good. It's positive.

Q. You seem more and more calm as the rounds go on. Is there reason for that, or just getting used to what's going on around you?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, on the court, I'm also the same. I think with all the events that happened the last three, four years, I somehow feel so strong mentally. I'm there every point. I don't think I played even one bad game. I try not to. I give hardly any points away free.
����������� I'm really strong mentally. I always was pretty good. I never lost it on the court. Maybe I've just gotten better with all the things that have gone on.
����������� Even on the court, I'm calm. Even if I get nervous, I really control it well.

Articles

Dokic coup [Teletext 495->497]
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Dokic continues run [Teletext 497]

But she responded with some devastating groundstrokes to tkae the next two sets, and sealed the match with a blistering forehand to win 3-6 6-1 6-2 for her best result in a Major since 2002.
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Dokic shocks Dane
By Matthew Clayton (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Australia's Jelena Dokic has continued her extraordinary return to Major tennis at the Australian Open 2009, defeating 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 3-6 6-1 6-2 in the third round on Friday night.

Guess who's back?
By Alix Ramsay (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
We have seen the helpless Jelena Dokic back in 2004, when her first career was beginning to peter out, and she looked a forlorn figure on the circuit. We have seen the deliriously happy Jelena Dokic earlier this week, when she won her first match at Rod Laver Arena in eight years, and beat Anna Chakvetadze. Now, we are seeing the real Jelena Dokic. The former world No.4 Jelena Dokic. The 'you will not have this point or this match while there is still breath in my body' Jelena Dokic. That Dokic, it seems, is back with a vengeance.

With the departure of Ana Ivanovic, Dokic's draw has opened up. Next on the horizon is Alisa Kleybanova: the world No.32 and, in theory, an easier opponent to face than Wozniacki. Stand by for the next chapter in the fairytale.
<<<

Dokic Blasts Past Wozniacki
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2916
>>>
For a while on Friday night, it seemed Jelena Dokic would post a creditable performance against a player who is knocking on the door of the top ten, but end her fairytale-run at this year's Australian Open with defeat in the third round. But against the odds, the 25-year-old dug deep against No.12 seed Caroline Wozniacki to conjure another glittering win: 3-6 6-1 6-2.

But, as she has done so many times already this week, Dokic didn't let the disappointment get the better of her - indeed, she would later say that losing the first set actually helped her focus. Instead, she powered through the second set, firing winners from both wings, and displaying astonishing patience and tactical nous for a player competing at her first Major in five years [not strictly true - Jelena did get into the main draw of the Australian Open 2006, but lost first round, and her last Major before that was the US Open 2004]. Wozniacki's delivery was broken to love in the fourth game of the set, and again two games later, setting the scene for the Australian to level the match.

Into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time, Dokic now plays No.29 seed Kleybanova - a hitting-partner and new friend in recent weeks - who hinted at her potential during Wimbledon last year when she ousted 10th seed Daniela Hantuchov� in the second round.
<<<

Redeemed Dokic continues Australian fairytale (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Jelena Dokic was beginning to feel confident about mixing with the world's best again after beating her second top-twenty opponent at the Australian Open on Friday.

"It's only the start of the year. I think I can only get better from here."
<<<

Ivanovic upset at Australian Open (PA SportsTicker)
>>>
<snip Ivanovic v Kleybanova>

"I'm not struggling with their games, and they're not blowing me off the court. I'm moving well. I'm getting to a lot of balls, and I'm serving well as well."
<<<

Welcome home (AP)
By Dennis Passa: AP Sports Writer
>>>
Jelena Dokic is back in Australia's good book.

"My dream came true after the second round," she said. "To come out after three years off and be beating these players that play week in and week out - while I've been struggling with other things - is great. I don't think it's sunk in yet."
<<<

Ivanovic crashes out (Eurosport/AFP/Reuters)
>>>
<snip Ivanovic v Kleybanova>

The 25-year-old earned three match-points, and when Wozniacki's forehand sailed over the baseline, and the crowd on Rod Laver Arena erupted.
<<<

Ivanovic crashes out, Jankovic battles on at Aussie Open (AFP)
>>>
Australia's former world number-four Jelena Dokic fired local hopes when her dream-comeback at the season-opening Major continued with a come-from-behind win over 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

<snip Ivanovic v Kleybanova, Jankovic v Sugiyama, Safina v Kanepi>

"I know I've been difficult at times, and I want to apologise for that."
<<<

'Dark Side of the Mood' (Tom Perrotta, TENNIS.com)
>>>
The title of this post has two purposes. First, it describes Thursday evening's much-hyped third-round match between Roger Federer and Marat Safin. <snip>

Ivanovic struggled with injuries late last year, and her confidence seems a bit shaken at present. She couldn't locate her toss, and her intensity fluctuated between off-the-charts high (lots of fist-pumps and "Come ons!") and flat (there's that word again). In her post-match interview, she was as cheerful as ever. Is it possible to take losses too well? One hopes Ivanovic regains her winning ways soon, so we don't have to probe that question further.
<<<

Ivanovic crashes out in Melbourne (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7846255.stm
>>>
World number-one Jelena Jankovic is through to the last 16, as are Dinara Safina and a resurgent Jelena Dokic.

Dokic's surprise win over a player ranked 175 places above her in the rankings was quickly followed by Kleybanova's victory over Ivanovic. <snip>
<<<

The Evans Report: Dokic Dazzles, Ana Out
By Richard Evans (Tennis Week)
>>>
Ana Ivanovic may have been sent crashing by Alisa Kleybanova, Amer Delic may have advanced his career with a vain but impressive effort against Novak �okovic, and Andy Roddick may have swept past that little French genius Fabrice Santoro, but there was only one story at the Australian Open on this memorable, sunny Friday - and it had nothing to do with the few idiots who tried to re-create their own pathetic version of the Serbian-Bosnian war. The story was Jelena Dokic.

Tears and cheers greeted that little speech, and no wonder.
<<<

Dokic shows she can test the best (Courtney Walsh, The Australian)
>>>
Jelena Dokic is turning back the clock.

"I wouldn't say [it's] the biggest, but it is probably the sweetest," she said.
<<<

Dokic rejoins world class
Richard Hinds (The Sydney Morning Herald)
>>>
Having dealt with so much in her still young life, Jelena Dokic is about to carry another burden into the second week of the Australian Open - the crushing expectations of the same Australian fans with whom she has been emotionally reunited during her incredible run here.

But Dokic wrenched the match from the young prodigy's grasp, the depth and conviction of her shots causing such a shift in momentum that the casual observer would have thought Dokic was the player barnstorming the top ten.
<<<

Dead drug-dealer's family demands Jelena Dokic prizemoney
Jackie Epstein and Michael Warner (Herald Sun)
>>>
Jelena Dokic will soon be back on court for a practice-hit after last night's thrilling three-set triumph.

"It took a lot of courage for Benny to go to Johnny's funeral. But Johnny helped Ben a lot... and he helped Jelena," Mr. Schirmer said.
<<<

Ana Ivanovic exit hardly noticed (Herald Sun / AAP)
>>>
So Aussie Ana has been ousted from the Australian Open.

But last year's beaten finalist at Melbourne Park - and the reigning French Open champion - was in turn upset in three sets by Russia's Alisa Kleybanova. <snip>
<<<

Jelena Dokic brings sense of peace to Open (The Times)
Neil Harman: Tennis Correspondent in Melbourne
>>>
Those who went to Melbourne Park with the sole intention of defiling the spirit of Roger Federer's "Happy Slam" - as the Swiss has branded the Australian Open - had their five minutes of infamy on the evening-news. The sight of Serbs and Bosnians throwing chairs and cups at each other over a tennis-match is something we hope never to witness again. The partisan singing of "Flower of Scotland" during Andy Murray's matches - he meets J�rgen Melzer of Austria this morning - is a children's picnic compared with the disgraceful scenes as Novak �okovic - the champion - overcame Amer Delic - an American-naturalised Bosnian - in four sets.

Now she meets Alisa Kleybanova: the No.29 seed from Russia, who toppled a distinctly poor Ana Ivanovic: the Serb who has slid from No.1 to No.5 in the world and who, unless she finds a sense of direction, will struggle to reverse the slide. It is pretty fair to say that Kleybanova is not the fittest looking player on tour, and neither is her style the most attractive, but she dealt more than capably with Ivanovic's game and fist-pumping, which began to look decidedly ridiculous as the match wore on.
<<<

My 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 �gnes Sz�vay 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 Vaidi�ov�.

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 Hantuchov� 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 Aliz� Cornet in the second round.

Kleybanova has reached the fourth round with the following results:
1r + Sofia Arvidsson, 7-5 7-5
2r + St�phanie 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."

Prematch 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

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'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]

Pick: Jelena Dokic in three sets.
<<<

Dokic last Australian standing in Melbourne (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
A rejuvenated Jelena Dokic will carry the hopes of a nation on her slim shoulders, while Roger Federer will continue his pursuit of a record-equalling 14th Major title at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Kleybanova may not be a household name yet, but she is unlikely to give Dokic an easy ride, since she beat 2008 runner-up Ana Ivanovic in the third round.
<<<

Day 7 preview: New faces and old hands
By James Riley (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
They say you never forget your first time and, for first-time fourth-rounders Jelena Dokic and Aliz� Cornet, today's contests serve up entr�e to the hallowed second week of a Major.

<snip Cornet>

Meanwhile, been-there, done-that girl Dokic has been working away behind the scenes, and in less glamorous circumstances, to restore her ailing career to its former glory.

"I'm not supposed to win," she says. "Any point that I win in a match is a bonus for me. I can just try to play well."
<<<

Putting friendship aside
By Darren Saligari (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Practice-partners Jelena Dokic and Alisa Kleybanova will have to put their friendship aside for a night as they battle it out for a spot in the Australian Open 2009 quarter-finals.

Find out tonight when Dokic and Kleybanova meet at Rod Laver Arena for a spot in the quarter-finals.
<<<

My TV-report

+ 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 strategy seemed to be that a solid, sensible performance would beat an erratic Kleybanova, but then she 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 (in fact she won the last two games to love), 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!

Prematch routine

The match was first on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session, which started slightly later than the advertised 19:30 AEDT due to the day-session overrunning (the Federer v Berdych five-setter was already over when BBC Red Button live coverage started at 08:30 GMT, but they had to get the day-session crowd out of the stadium and clean up before the evening-session crowd could get in).

Both players were interviewed in the corridor to Rod Laver Arena.

CHRIS DITTMAR: First up: seeded 29, Alisa Kleybanova. Alisa, great form for you coming in. What a win over Ivanovic!

ALISA KLEYBANOVA: Yeah: it was definitely one of my best matches I've ever played. But ??I knew is??, you know, it's all over, and I am really looking forward for the 'nother great match tonight.

CHRIS DITTMAR: Good luck.

ALISA KLEYBANOVA: Thank you very much.

CHRIS DITTMAR: And her opponent tonight: Australia's Jelena Dokic. Jelena, it's just getting better and better for you. Confidence growing with every match.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it is. Erm, had a great run so far. It'll be another tough match today. But erm, I'm going into this match again as an underdog, and she's the favourite, so er, you know, I just wanna put up a good performance and see if I can win.

CHRIS DITTMAR: Good luck.

JELENA DOKIC: Thanks.

Jelena always seems to thrive an underdog-status - ten years ago, she was saying, "They're supposed to beat me - not me supposed to beat them" - so it's good that she sees this match that way. It would be natural to put pressure on herself after beating the higher-seeded Anna Chakvetadze [17] and Caroline Wozniacki [11].

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 19:42 AEDT): "Dokic and Kleybanova are introduced to what, at the moment, is a sparse Rod Laver Arena, but I'm sure that will fill up once the patrons recover from that Fed epic."

Kleybanova won the toss and chose to receive.

Jelena is wearing the same closed-shouldered white shirt and cyan skirt that she did in her previous match, while Kleybanova is wearing an open-shouldered yellow shirt and a short purple skirt, with a purple stripe on her white cap.

Chris Bailey looked at Kleybanova's bulky body and questioned her mobility, but Sam Smith said she covered the court quite well for her height (5'11").

Sam Smith mentioned Kleybanova's "head-bobbing motion" on her serve and backhand, but said it was less noticeable than at Wimbledon 2008.

First set

DOKIC * *  @*  @*@ 7
KLEYB  * *@  *@    5

The match started at 19:48 AEDT.

Jelena serving 0-0: Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/15. Kleybanova netted a backhand on the fourth stroke. 15/15. Jelena hit slightly harder than Kleybanova in a long crosscourt-forehand drill, but then Kleybanova struck with a forehand down the line, forcing Jelena to net a backhand. 15/30. Kleybanova went for a crosscourt forehand winner onto the sideline, but it was just wide. 30/30. Kleybanova netted a backhand off a peentrating down-the-line forehand from Jelena. 40/30. Jelena neutered Kleybanova's early initiative with an excellent deep lob just inside the baseline, and Kleybanova netted a backhand three strokes later.

Both girls really feeling each other out in that game, even though they must be pretty familiar with each other's games - being hitting-partners.

Kleybanova serving 0-1: Jelena got down on her knees to squeeze a pinpoint backhand winner down the line: just inside the sideline. She pumped her fist. 0/15. Second serve: forehand return long by a whisker. 15/15. Kleybanova approached the net, forcing Jelena to hit a backhand long. 30/15. Kleybanova on the third stroke netted a wild backhand. 30/30. Body-jamming serve forced Jelena to hit a backhand return halfway up the net. 40/30. Jelena netted an ill-advised off-backhand dropshot from just inside the baseline. Chris Bailey: "If that had gone over, Kleybanova would have been nowhere near it."

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 19:55 AEDT): "A hold apiece in the first two games between Dokic and Kleybanova, but there's enough there to suggest this match will be very much up for grabs for whichever player can get going first."

Jelena serving 1-1: First serve out wide: forehand return just long. 15/0. A mildly awkward body-jamming serve induced Kleybanova to dump a forehand return into the net. 30/0. Jelena hit a deep backhand just inside the baseline, forcing Kleybanova to net a forehand. 40/0. Service-winner down the middle.

Jelena looks far more grooved than Kleybanova at this point: her groundstrokes are very precise and accurate (often close to the lines), while Kleybanova is making some pretty wild errors. Jelena's playing well within herself right now.

Sam Smith: "This is why Jelena is able to play at the top level with hardly any preparation, because the ball she hits is so hard, early and flat."

Kleybanova serving 1-2: Ace down the middle: just inside the service-line. 15/0. Kleybanova hit a down-the-line forehand wide, off a sliced backhand from Jelena - not a bad idea against a tall girl such as Kleybanova. 15/15. Kleybanova's deep crosscourt backhand forced Jelena to net a backhand. 30/15. Jelena's groundstrokes lacked depth in this rally, and she netted a forehand. 40/15. Service-winner down the middle.

A steadying hold for Kleybanova, and Jelena may be going off the boil a bit - not hitting with as much depth.

Chris Bailey said Jelena may be putting more pressure on herself in this match than her prematch interview implied, because she's yelling things in between points.

Jelena serving 2-2: Jelena hit a backhand just long. 0/15. Kleybanova crosscourt forehand wide. 15/15. Jelena backhand wide. 15/30. Jelena netted a backhand off a deep backhand return. 15/40 (BP). A long baseline-rally ended with Kleybanova's off-forehand forcing Jelena to stretch wide to hit a one-handed backhand lob, which landed just long to give Kleybanova the first break of the match.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:07 AEDT): "Ah, first chink in the armour from Dokic as the Australian is broken in game five of the first set when she sends a couple of ambitious passing-shots wide. Solid but unspectacular so far from Kleybanova, though, so plenty of time left..."

Kleybanova is playing much better now: hitting her groundstrokes hard and deep. There's just a hint of panic from Jelena now, who was getting through the previous games with accuracy but not as much power as she can hit with. Does she keep the ball in play and let Kleybanova make errors, or go for more power to take the initiative away from Kleybanova?

Sam Smith wondered if Jelena's right Achilles' tendon was bothering her again - there's a pretty big plaster on it.

Kleybanova serving 3-2: Jelena forehand just long. 15/0. Jelena painted the sideline with a crosscourt backhand winner. 15/15. Kleybanova's backhand appeared to be just long, but it wasn't called; Jelena used up a challenge (Hawk-Eye showed that it caught about 40% of the baseline). 30/15. Double fault (second serve just long). 30/30. Kleybanova netted a backhand. 30/40 (BP #1). Kleybanova got away with a very short second serve as Jelena's weak return gave Kleybanova the initiative to hit an off-backhand + crosscourt backhand winner. 40/40. Kleybanova hit an amazing short-angled crosscourt forehand winner. Ad Kleybanova. She hit a crosscourt backhand onto the baseline, but Jelena bunted a great backhand half-volley down the line, forcing Kleybanova to net a forehand. Deuce #2. Deep serve induced Jelena to net a backhand return. Ad Kleybanova. She netted a backhand on the third stroke. Deuce #3. Kleybanova backhand long. Ad Jelena (BP #2). Jelena's deep crosscourt backhand just inside the baseline induced Kleybanova to hit a backhand long.

Jelena has settled back down again now: great depth, a sensible amount of power.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:17 AEDT): "Good work from Kleybanova as she is pegged to break-point down through some cracking Dokic groundstrokes, but saves it with a forehand-backhand combination that her Aussie opponent can't keep up with. However, two deuces later, the Russian sends a couple of returns long with both girls looking to hit deep into the court, and we're back on serve."

Jelena serving 3-3: A long crosscourt-forehand drill ended with Kleybanova hitting one long - after Kleybanova earlier chose not to exploit a huge gap to Jelena's left. 15/0. Kleybanova on the fourth stroke hit a forehand just long. 30/0. Jelena's crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand switch-up forced Kleybanova to net a backhand. 40/0. Jelena went to the net; Kleybanova hit a short crosscourt backhand, giving Jelena an easy backhand winner down the line.

Jelena played much better in that game: more power now, and she looks so in control of the rallies, outmanoeuvring Kleybanova.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:20 AEDT): "Dokic has really come to life now, pounding groundstroke after groundstroke into the corners, and Kleybanova can only fend off the bullets until the odd one cuts through... a hold to love for the home-favourite."

Kleybanova serving 3-4: Jelena forehand wide. 15/0. After an exchange of deep groundstrokes down the middle. Kleybanova hit a forehand long. 15/15. Kleybanova spread Jelena with alternating crosscourt and down-the-line forehands, finishing with a crosscourt forehand winner. 30/15. Service-winner down the middle. 40/15. Jelena dumped a cheap backhand return into the net.

Now Kleybanova is playing better and taking the initiative, and Jelena went off the boil in that game.

Jelena serving 4-4: First serve out wide: forehand return wide. 15/0. Jelena hit an error-forcing pinpoint forehand down the line. 30/0. Kleybanova's deep forehand down the line forced Jelena to hit a backhand just long. 30/15. Jelena netted a wild backhand. 30/30. A crosscourt-backhand drill ended with Kleybanova hitting one wide. Sometimes it looks like they're just having another of their hitting-sessions! ;-) 40/30. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell long). 40/40. Jelena dumped a forehand into the net. Ad Kleybanova (BP). A deep return induced Jelena to spray a down-the-line backhand wide and reinstate Kleybanova's break.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:29 AEDT): "Intriguing match, this, as Kleybanova holds comfortably courtesy of a couple of whipped forehand winners, and then pulls back from 30/40 down on the Dokic serve to earn a break-point when the Aussie slams a return into the net. It's all the opening the Russian needs as Dokic goes wide with a backhand, and moments after looking imperious, Dokic must now break to stay in the set."

A touch of panic in those errors from Jelena. This match is a bit of an enigma: Jelena looking so settled and solid at some times but not others. It's like she believes that a solid, sensible performance will beat Kleybanova, then panics when that's not working out.

Kleybanova serving 5-4: Jelena pounced on a short ball to hit an off-backhand winner. 0/15. Kleybanova surprised Jelena with a short-angled crosscourt backhand winner off a deep ball from Jelena that got Kleybanova off-balance. 15/15. Kleybanova hit a scorching crosscourt forehand winner just inside the sideline, and reacted with a massive fist-pump. 30/15. Kleybanova tried to pounce on a short ball with a crosscourt forehand, but got herself jammed and put it wide. 30/30. Double fault (second serve long). 30/40 (BP). A nailbiting rally ended with Kleybanova netting a forehand, and Jelena celebrated the break back with an animated fist-pump.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:34 AEDT): "...and break Dokic does, prompting a double-fist-pump/hip-thrust celebration reminiscent of your dad 'getting down' to AC/DC at a wedding. Kleybanova goes wide and then long with a forehand to help Dokic level, but it's no less than the Aussie deserves after some terrific defensive work on her backhand side."

Jelena serving 5-5: First serve out wide: Kleybanova netted a forehand return. 15/0. Jelena's deep backhand forced Kleybanova to hit a forehand lob wide. 30/0. Double fault (both serves into the net). 30/15. A deep, low-bouncing ball from Kleybanova forced Jelena to net a backhand, and Jelena looks anxious. 30/30. Ace out wide: just inside the sideline. Jelena pumped her fist. 40/30. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell wide). 40/40. Jelena's short-angled crosscourt backhand forced Kleybanova to hit a backhand wide. Ad Jelena. Double fault (second serve into the net). Deuce #2. Ace out wide: just inside the sideline. Ad Jelena. An intriguing rally looked to be in Kleybanova's favour as her deep crosscourt backhand hit the baseline, pushing Jelena back behind the word "MELBOURNE", but Jelena dug out a commendable backhand down the line, then spread Kleybanova with a crosscourt backhand onto the baseline + down-the-line backhand to force a short ball; Jelena's deep down-the-line forehand forced Kleybanova to hoist a backhand skyscraper-lob, which Jelena dispatched with an off-forehand smash-winner. She pumped her fist.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:40 AEDT): "As Katy Perry would say: 'You're Hot and You're Cold'... Dokic mixes up three double faults with an ace, a forehand winner and an overhead that puts her within a game of the opening set."

The double faults (three in that game), the anxious looks, the exaggerated fist-pumps when she wins a point, suggest that Jelena may be too conscious of how much this match means to her. But she got away with it in that game.

It's a very different mentality for Jelena from when she was a set down against Caroline Wozniacki with no expectations and nothing to lose - her tennis flowed so freely then.

Sam Smith: "She's been very careful tonight with her tennis."

Kleybanova serving 5-6: Kleybanova's deep crosscourt backhand forced Jelena to net a backhand. She looked frustrated, and berated herself by tapping her head. 15/0. Jelena hit a backhand return-winner down the line (called wide, but the umpire overruled, and the video-replay showed it clipping the outside edge of the sideline). 15/15. Jelena's deep crosscourt forehand forced Kleybanova to hit a forehand long. 15/30. Kleybanova slugged a crosscourt backhand wide. 15/40 (SP #1). Jelena netted a forehand. 30/40 (SP #2). Deep first serve down the middle hit the service-line; short crosscourt forehand return; Kleybanova opened up the court with a short-angled crosscourt forehand; Jelena hit a decent crosscourt forehand but was stranded in her forehand-corner, but Kleybanova hit a down-the-line forehand wide. Jelena won the first set 7-5 at 20:45 AEDT (57 minutes). She reacted with a massive fist-pump.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:47 AEDT): "And that's the first set for Dokic! JD is finding such tremendous depth on her groundstrokes that Kleybanova can't help but go long or wide on her returns and, after saving one break-point, the Russian again misses the court with a forehand, and the Australian home-favourite celebrates the set with a fist-pump that would put Tim Henman to shame."

Judy Murray on Five Live sports extra: "We all know what a tough time Jelena has gone through over the years, and she has been in the wilderness for a while... but she now appears to have come full circle and is playing some really terrific tennis."

Chris Bailey: "Did Dokic win that set, or did Kleybanova lose it?"
Sam Smith: "I thought Kleybanova might have lost it, actually. She got very tight, and the crowd are probably taking 20-30% away from her."

Second set

DOKIC   * * *@ @   5
KLEYB @* * *  @ @* 7

Jelena serving 0-0: Jelena crosscourt backhand just long. 0/15. Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/30. Kleybanova crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. 0/40 (BP #1). Kleybanova netted a backhand. 15/40 (BP #2). Jelena netted a backhand to go a break down immediately.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:50 AEDT): "Oops - Jelena Dokic struggles to maintain the intensity, and a number of unforced errors gift Kleybanova the break early in the second."

Maybe a loss of concentration by Jelena after such an anxious first set?

Kleybanova serving 1-0: Jelena netted a forehand. 15/0. Jelena hit a down-the-line backhand wide. 30/0. Jelena's deep backhand return forced a short one-handed backhand from Kleybanova, and Jelena dispatched it with an easy off-backhand winner. 30/15. Kleybanova crosscourt forehand wide. 30/30. After an exchange of extreme-angled crosscourt forehands, Kleybanova exploited the gap with a forehand winner down the line. 40/30. Kleybanova's crosscourt forehand forced Jelena to stretch wide & low and hit a forehand long.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 20:54 AEDT): "Kleybanova consolidates her break with Dokic still a little erratic."

Jelena serving 0-2: Jelena crosscourt forehand + flairsome forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and landed very long). 15/15. Jelena netted a forehand. 15/30. Second serve out wide forced Kleybanova to net a backhand return. 30/30. Ace out wide: on the sideline. 40/30. Serve out wide + crosscourt backhand winner.

Kleybanova serving 2-1: Ace down the middle: right in the corner. 15/0. Jelena forehand just long. She put her hands on her hips, looked down and grimaced. 30/0. Kleybanova hit a short-angled crosscourt backhand half-volley that skidded off the sideline, forcing Jelena to run outside the tramlines, stretch very wide and earth a one-handed backhand. 40/0. Kleybanova's second serve sat up nicely for Jelena to hit a stinging short-angled crosscourt backhand return, forcing Kleybanova to net a one-handed sliced backhand. 40/15. Jelena used the angle of Kleybanova's serve against her with a crosscourt forehand return just inside the sideline, forcing Kleybanova to net a forehand. 40/30. Jelena hit a big crosscourt backhand return + flairsome crosscourt forehand winner. 40/40. Kleybanova hit an acute crosscourt forehand that bounced very low, forcing Jelena to net a forehand. Ad Kleybanova. Her mildly awkward crosscourt forehand induced Jelena to mishit a forehand long.

Jelena serving 1-3: Jelena's second serve was called long, but she challenged: Hawk-Eye showed that it was on the service-line, so instead of a double fault, Jelena got to replay the point with a first serve (stupid rule), and hit a crosscourt backhand winner. 15/0. Kleybanova crosscourt backhand wide. 30/0. Kleybanova went to the net, but Jelena hit a magnificent backhand lob-winner. 40/0. Ace down the middle.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:08 AEDT): "Much better from Dokic, that. After a start to this set typified by unforced errors and erratic groundstrokes, she's back to her brutal best as she powers past Kleybanova to stay within touching-distance in this second set. She's still a break down, but there are a few more twists and turns to come yet, I'd say..."

If Jelena loses today, she'll go up from #187 to about #130; if she wins, she'll be back in the top 100 - high enough to play the year's other three Majors!

Kleybanova serving 3-2: Second serve: Jelena netted a forehand return. 15/0. Kleybanova on the third stroke hit a backhand winner down the line. 30/0. Jelena forehand long. 40/0. Jelena ran down a dropshot but hit a stupid crosscourt backhand to give Kleybanova an easy backhand winner into the wide open gap.

Jelena serving 2-4: Jelena ran down a dropshot and hit a deep backhand winner down the line: just inside the baseline. 15/0. Kleybanova hit a roaring crosscourt backhand return, but Jelena was in just the right place to pick off a crosscourt forehand winner into the corner. 30/0. Kleybanova's short-angled crosscourt forehand forced Jelena outside the tramlines to net a forehand. 30/15. Jelena's deep crosscourt forehand induced Kleybanova to hit a forehand long. 40/15. Jelena ran down a dropshot, but hit a down-the-line sliced backhand just long. 40/30. First serve down the middle induced Kleybanova to hit a forehand return long.

Sam Smith: "Dokic on her absolute 'A' game is probably better than Kleybanova when she's playing her best as well."

Kleybanova serving 4-3: Kleybanova hit a short-angled crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline, but Jelena exploited the gap she left with a forehand winner down the line. 0/15. Kleybanova forehand wide. 0/30. A deep ball down the middle from Kleybanova induced Jelena to spray an off-forehand long. Jelena put her hand to her face and looked close to tears. Sam Smith said she was tired after her three emotional three-set wins here. 15/30. Kleybanova crosscourt forehand wide. 15/40 (BP #1). Deep first serve down the middle forced Jelena to net a backhand return. Kleybanova celebrated with a yell. 30/40 (BP #2). Second serve: Jelena netted a forehand return, and Kleybanova pumped her fist. 40/40. Kleybanova had the upper hand for most of a long baseline-rally, especially when her short-angled crosscourt forehand pulled Jelena outside the tramlines to hit a defensive forehand lob, but Kleybanova's deep off-backhand wasn't enough to maintain her initiative, and Jelena's deep forehand down the middle jammed into Kleybanova's body, inducing her to hit a backhand just long. Ad Jelena (BP #3). Kleybanova failed to get her first serve in, then hit a nervy forehand long. Jelena breaks back at last!

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:20 AEDT): "A stunning Dokic forehand from wide of the court into the corner precedes a wide forehand from Kleybanova, and JD goes 30/0 up against serve as she attempts to get back into the set. Another wide Kleyba-forehand puts Dokic 40/15 up... but the Aussie slams into the net on the second break-point to give up the chance. A long backhand brings Dokic another glimpse, though, and another unforced error from Kleybanova gifts the home-favourite the break back. The Rod Laver Arena explodes into life."

Sam Smith: "Jelena Dokic feeds on winners: if you get one, you get another one. But this is a different performance from the previous rounds where she was free and easy, blazing winners - this is just grinding it out here."

Jelena serving 4-4: Second serve: backhand return long. 15/0. Kleybanova pounced on a short sliced backhand from Jelena with a crosscourt forehand winner onto the sideline (called out by someone in the crowd, apparently). 15/15. Jelena hit an excellent first serve right into the corner, but Kleybanova connected with a crosscourt forehand return-winner. 15/30. Jelena hit a forehand long off a deep ball from Kleybanova. 15/40 (BP). Jelena forehand long off a crosscourt forehand from Kleybanova, who celebrated the break with a loud "c'mon".

Jelena looks tired at the moment - the way she made errors off those last two Kleybanova-shots. It's not looking good if this goes to a third set! She could do with a second wind right now.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:24 AEDT): "Oh dear... that's hushed the RLA a touch as Kleyba breaks right back, the unforced errors returning to haunt Dokic like a disgruntled ghost returning to the scene of his/her passing in an old disused warehouse. Scooby Doo style, if you will. Ahem."

Kleybanova serving 5-4: Ace out wide. 15/0. Jelena's piercing crosscourt forehand forced Kleybanova to net a forehand. 15/15. Kleybanova ran down a poor, high-bouncing dropshot and hit a crosscourt forehand winner. 30/15. First serve out wide: backhand return long. Kleybanova yelled "c'mon". 40/15 (SP #1). Kleybanova tried to finish in style with a crosscourt backhand winner to the sideline - Jelena had stopped playing the point - but it was just wide. 40/30 (SP #2). A couple of solid crosscourt forehands from Jelena, and Kleybanova hit one wide. 40/40. Jelena spread Kleybanova with a crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand, forcing Kleybanova to net a backhand. Ad Jelena (BP #1). Jelena pinned Kleybanova back with a deep topspin backhand, but earthed a horrible backhand dropshot. Sam Smith: "She's more mentally tired than she realises - concentration out the window there." Deuce #2. Jelena went to the net for the first time - as I suggested in my match-preview - and Kleybanova hit a forehand pass wide. The crowd went wild. Ad Jelena (BP #2). Jelena netted an off-backhand, trying to go back behind Kleybanova. Deuce #3. Service-winner. Ad Kleybanova (SP #3). Jelena's forehand return forced a short lob from Kleybanova, and Jelena dispatched it with an off-forehand winner. Kleybanova wanted to challenge, but she was too late, and the crowd booed her. Deuce #4. Jelena challenged a first serve that was called wide: Hawk-Eye showed that it clipped the outside edge of the sideline, so they replayed the point. Jelena crosscourt backhand return + pinpoint backhand winner down the line. Ad Jelena (BP #3). Kleybanova netted a cheap forehand on the third stroke.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:35 AEDT): "Swings-and-roundabouts-tastic! Kleyba storms to 40/15 with two points to seal the set, but the Russian's nerves do a runner, and Dokic brutalises her way to break-point. She nets a return, prompting groans of dismay from the Rod Laver Arena, though, and does the same on her second break-point to prompt screams of anguish. But the Australian then fends off set-point, blazes a forehand down the line to bring up a third break-point, which Kleyba nets, and the roof of the RLA is very nearly lifted completely off."

Jelena serving 5-5: Serve out wide induced Kleybanova to hit a forehand return long. 15/0. Jelena opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand and went for a forehand winner down the line, but it was just wide. 15/15. Jelena down-the-line backhand wide, and muttered. 15/30. Jelena went to the net behind a sliced backhand down the line, but Kleybanova hit a crosscourt forehand winner just inside the sideline. 15/40 (BP #1). Jelena off-backhand return + crosscourt backhand winner onto the baseline. Kleybanova challenged it: Hawk-Eye showed that it caught about 10% of the baseline!! 30/40 (BP #2). Double fault #8 (second serve into the net).

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:39 AEDT): "Anti-climax-tastic! Kleybanova produces a couple of stunning crosscourt forehand winners - not that you'd know from the reaction of the crowd, who are belligerently refusing to acknowledge anything even half-decent the Russian does - and then Dokic throws in a double fault to gift-wrap the initiative in this set and place it into Kleyba's grateful hands."

Jelena was coughing at the changeover, and looked quite sad. I've got a horrible feeling that she's already lost this match in her mind.

Kleybanova serving 6-5: Ace out wide: on the sideline. 15/0. Kleybanova down-the-line backhand long. 15/15. Kleybanova hit a virtual backhand winner down the line. Jelena is just pushing the ball at the moment. 30/15. Jelena netted a cheap backhand return. 40/15 (SP #4). Ace out wide. Kleybanova won the second set 7-5 at 21:42 AEDT (second set 57m, match so far 1h54m). She celebrated with a massive fist-pump and two "c'mon"s.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:42 AEDT): "We're level in the Rod Laver Arena! Dokic, for once, looks a little forlorn as Kleybanova aces on set-point to seal the hold to 15, and we're going to a deciding set. �okovic and Baghdatis must continue to wait in the changing-room, and it's 21:44 local time..."

Judy Murray on Five Live sports extra: "The kind of erratic play we're seeing from Dokic is really not uncommon from good players who are returning after a spell out of the game. She needs matches to realise what is clearly huge potential."

Sam Smith: "Just too many unforced errors [22] from Dokic, and I think she made them because she was being too careful. She's not a player who should be careful - just have a swing at it, because that is her game. And I just wonder now: third set, all on the line, is she gonna break out and just go for it? That is the way to the quarter-finals for her. It might not be good enough, but I think she'll be very disappointed if she plays as conservatively as she did in the second set."

Third set

DOKIC *   *@* * * *@ 8
KLEYB  *@*   * * *   6

Jelena serving 0-0: Jelena forehand long. 0/15. Jelena opened the point with an excellent first serve out wide (just inside the sideline) + crosscourt forehand, forcing Kleybanova to hoist a forehand skyscraper-lob that landed on the baseline, but that didn't dent Jelena's initiative much, as she hit a deep off-forehand + stunning crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. 15/15. Jelena backhand winner down the line. 30/15. Jelena netted a backhand. 30/30. Jelena hit a "stunning" backhand winner down the line: just inside the sideline. 40/30. Jelena hit a deep off-forehand, and another off-forehand back behind Kleybanova for a winner.

Sam Smith: "I feel [Jelena's] tank is almost empty, which might be a good thing if she loosens up and goes for winners."

Kleybanova serving 0-1: Jelena went to the net and hit a backhand drop-volley winner down the line. 0/15. Jelena went for a low-probability crosscourt backhand winner, putting it wide. She berated herself. 15/15. Second serve: Jelena hit a backhand return-winner down Kleybanova's backhand-sideline. 15/30. Jelena down-the-line forehand long. 30/30. Serve out wide + crosscourt backhand forced Jelena to earth a backhand, but her movement wasn't great. 40/30. Slow second serve: Jelena hit a stunning crosscourt forehand return-winner onto the baseline. 40/40. A netcord from Jelena drew Kleybanova to the net, and Jelena hit a backhand lob-winner onto the baseline. Ad Jelena (BP). Jelena, pulled wide, netted a forehand. Deuce #2. First serve out wide forced Jelena to hit a forehand long. Ad Kleybanova. Jelena netted a forehand return.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 21:55 AEDT): "Missed opportunity for Dokic as she kerplunks her way to break-point with a brilliant backhand, but Kleyba digs deep and sees out the hold to keep things tighter than a sailor's splice-knot."

Sam Smith said Jelena's footwork had deteriorated in the last five games - not getting herself in such a great position to hit the ball.

Jelena serving 1-1: Double fault (second serve long). 0/15. Jelena spread Kleybanova with a crosscourt forehand + forehand winner down the line - two groundstrokes at the net. 15/15. Kleybanova crosscourt backhand winner. 15/30. Jelena hit a deceptive crosscourt forehand back behind Kleybanova, forcing her to net a forehand. 30/30. First serve down the middle: backhand return just long. 40/30. Jelena wasted a challenge on her first serve, then hit a forehand just long. 40/40. Jelena forced a short ball, but blasted a crosscourt forehand into the net - another sign of tiredness and deteriorating footwork. Ad Kleybanova (BP). Jelena hit a backhand long to go a break down in this third set.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:02 AEDT): "Dokic is broken! Hats off to Kleybanova - public enemy number one in this Rod Laver Arena - but she is really showing grit, determination and bravery - and no less skill - as she matches her Australian opponent stroke for stroke on her way to a break to deuce following some hitting heavier than a really heavy thing that's heavy."

The commentators said subtle tactics such as hitting behind the opponent might make the difference in this match, but that Jelena is an instinctive ball-striker rather than tactical player.

Kleybanova serving 2-1: Kleybanova on the third stroke netted a backhand. 0/15. Second serve out wide: Jelena hit a tired backhand return wide. 15/15. Jelena went to the net behind an off-forehand, but it was not good enough: Kleybanova hit a backhand pass-winner down the line. 30/15. Jelena hit a forehand down Kleybanova's forehand-sideline, and another back behind her for a brilliant winner. 30/30. Kleybanova forced a lob, but hit a forehand smash wide. 30/40 (BP #1). Kleybanova forehand just wide, but she challenged: Hawk-Eye showed that it was plumb on the line, so they had to replay the point. Service-winner down the middle. Kleybanova pumped her fist and yelled "c'mon". 40/40. Jelena hit a down-the-line backhand winner back behind Kleybanova. Ad Jelena (BP #2). Jelena netted a very makeable forehand return. Deuce #2. Kleybanova played a great spreading rally, but Jelena retrieved an almost irretrievable crosscourt forehand by bunting a down-the-line forehand onto the sideline; Kleybanova went for a crosscourt backhand winner into the gap, but it clipped the netcord and fell back on her side. Kleybanova got a code-violation for coaching. Ad Jelena (BP #3). Jelena forehand long. Kleybanova emitted another sharp yell. Deuce #3. Jelena netted a forehand, and Kleybanova shouted. Ad Kleybanova. Jelena crosscourt backhand + backhand winner down the line. Deuce #4. Jelena netted a forehand after a long baseline-rally. She put her hands on her hips and looked down. Ad Kleybanova. Double fault (second serve long). Deuce #5. Cheap forehand return long. Ad Kleybanova. Backhand return very long. Another loud yell from Kleybanova as she finally consolidated her break.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:14 AEDT): "Oh, please, behave girls. Nothing is coming easily for either of these players, as both mix bizarre errors with unbelievable strokeplay, and Baghdatis and �okovic continue to twiddle thumbs in the changing-room. Dokic has three break-back points, but Kleyba manages to save them all, despite slamming a regulation overhead into a baseline-judge's head on the full earlier in the game, and the only blemish for the Russian is a coaching-warning from the umpire. Which, as you can imagine, only endears the 29th seed to the RLA crowd even further."

Jelena serving 1-3: Jelena went for a forehand winner down the line, but it was called wide. Jelena challenged: Hawk-Eye showed that it missed the sideline by about 30% of the width of the sideline. 0/15. Jelena netted a forehand. 0/30. Jelena crosscourt forehand + forehand winner down the line. 15/30. Jelena crosscourt forehand + forehand winner down the line again. 30/30. Kleybanova netted a forehand. 40/30. Serve down the middle + off-forehand winner.

Kleybanova serving 3-2: Kleybanova crosscourt forehand + forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Short, slow second serve: Jelena crosscourt backhand return-winner. 15/15. Kleybanova went for a short-angled crosscourt forehand to the sideline, but it was just wide. 15/30. A crosscourt-forehand drill ended with Kleybanova netting one. 15/40 (BP). Jelena's off-forehand forced Kleybanova to hit a floating backhand long, and even before it landed out (just), Jelena was waving her arms to orchestrate the crowd as she broke back.

Jelena serving 3-3: Forehand return wide. 15/0. Backhand return just long. Jelena pumped her fist. 30/0. Double fault (second serve long). 30/15. Jelena hit a forehand just long, and stupidly wasted her last challenge - the ball looked clearly long to me. 30/30. Kleybanova crosscourt forehand wide. 40/30. Jelena's forehand down the line forced Kleybanova to stretch and net a backhand. Jelena celebrated with a big fist-pump.

But will wasting her last challenge come back to haunt Jelena if there's a bad call between now and 6-6?

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:24 AEDT): "It's so unpredictable it's, erm, predictable. Dokic breaks back to 15 when Kleyba punches a forehand return long, and the Australian responds by pumping up the crowd with the kind of wild-eyed intensity employed normally only by crazed astronauts who have spent far too long on their own in a space-shuttle orbiting Jupiter. She then consolidates the break with some sensational groundstrokes, and repeats the crowd-pump trick to spur crazed celebrations in the Rod Laver Arena. I'll be honest: Dokic scares me a little bit."

Kleybanova serving 3-4: Kleybanova crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand winner onto the sideline. Kleybanova said "c'mon". 15/0. Kleybanova picked off a stunning short-angled crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. Jelena gave a wry smile. 30/0. Kleybanova's crosscourt forehand forced Jelena to net a forehand, and Kleybanova celebrated with two more loud yells. 40/0. Jelena netted a forehand return, and Kleybanova is yelling loudly after every point she wins now.

Jelena serving 4-4: Serve out wide: Kleybanova crosscourt forehand wide. 15/0. Jelena went to the net, but Kleybanova hit a dipping crosscourt forehand virtual pass-winner at her feet. Looks like Kleybanova's passing-shots aren't so bad after all! 15/15. Jelena crosscourt forehand + off-forehand winner. 30/15. Double fault #11 (second serve clipped the netcord and fell long). 30/30. Jelena hit a penetrating crosscourt forehand + measured off-forehand winner. 40/30. Service-winner down the middle.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:30 AEDT): "Another double fault from Dokic - her 11th of the match - can't halt her progress as, again, she punches a couple of stunning forehand winners to hold, and she's just a game away from the quarter-finals now..."

Jelena looks quite tired sitting down at the changeover, but much happier than that changeover at 5-6* in the second!

Kleybanova serving 4-5: Kleybanova netted a forehand. 0/15. Jelena blocked a crosscourt forehand return wide. 15/15. Serve out wide + forehand winner down the line. 30/15. Jelena backhand long (semi-forced by some big hitting from Kleybanova). 40/15. Kleybanova wasted a good first serve by dumping a crazy backhand dropshot into the bottom of the net - amazing what pressure can do to even the professionals sometimes! 40/30. Jelena netted a forehand return, and looked very disappointed.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:35 AEDT): "Baghdatis and �okovic get to their feet in the changing-room in anticipation... and then sit down like a kid being told off in nursery-school as Kleybanova holds to 30 to level up the deciding set again."

Jelena serving 5-5: Ace out wide: just inside the sideline. 15/0. Serve down the middle + forehand winner down the line. 30/0. Jelena netted a forehand. 30/15. Kleybanova opened up the court and went for a crosscourt backhand winner, but it was just long. Jelena pumped her fist. 40/15. Service-winner out wide.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:37 AEDT): "What nerve from Dokic as she holds to 15 - aided by her first ace of the set - and the match rumbles on. This pair have now won 116 points apiece in this match, believe it or not - it's that close."

Chris Bailey: "How much in the tank is left for Dokic? I get the impression Kleybanova can go on all night."

Kleybanova serving 5-6: Kleybanova forced a short ball and hit an off-forehand winner. 15/0. Jelena slipped over going for a backhand return. She stayed down for 15 seconds, and there was a look of pain on her face. Her left ankle turned under her: it looked horrible on the video-replay, so it's amazing she's not in much more pain! Umpire Mariana Alves got down from the high chair and went over to see if Jelena was okay. Jelena retied the laces of her left shoe, and play continued after a delay of 1m07s between Kleybanova's crosscourt forehand winner (after Jelena's fall) and the next serve. 30/0. Kleybanova netted a forehand. Jelena is walking gingerly between points after that slip. 30/15. Jelena hit a crosscourt backhand just wide. 40/15. Jelena forehand return just long.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:43 AEDT): "Geeze, Louise! As if this match wasn't more tense than a row of wigwams already, Dokic rolls over on her ankle attempting to return a Kleyba-serve, and the Russian goes on to level to 15. JD looks a touch uncomfortable, and examines her left ankle at the end of the game, but she will carry on without medical attention..."

Chris Bailey: "Must have incredibly flexible ankles and ligaments!"

The challenge-counter is reset to 3 for both players, as it is after every 12 games of an advantage-set.

Jelena serving 6-6: Kleybanova on the fourth stroke hit a forehand long. 15/0. Kleybanova crosscourt backhand wide. 30/0. Jelena hit an "unbelievable" crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. Chris Bailey (chuckling): "Dokic after 2h55m of play is almost producing her best tennis of the night!" 40/0. Kleybanova crosscourt backhand wide.

Jelena is walking gingerly between points, but amazingly, that left-ankle injury doesn't appear to be affecting her play.

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:45 AEDT): "Dokic can only be running on adrenaline now, as she brutalises groundstrokes on her way to a hold to love. At the end of the game, she calls for the trainer, who gets to work on the home-favourite's left ankle..."

Jelena got the trainer out for her left ankle. There didn't appear to be any swelling. The trainer felt Jelena's left calf a bit as well as her ankle. Sometimes I envy the trainers! ;-)

Come on Jelena - don't make me have to change DVDs for the second time in this match!

Kleybanova serving 6-7: First serve just wide. Kleybanova used up a challenge. Jelena's crosscourt forehand forced Kleybanova to net a forehand. 0/15. Kleybanova netted a cheap forehand. 0/30. Kleybanova came to the net, but Jelena's dipping crosscourt backhand pass forced her to net a backhand volley. The crowd erupted! 0/40 (MP #1). First serve into the net. Short second serve out wide: Jelena hit a backhand return-winner down the line, sank to her haunches and looked close to tears. Jelena won 7-5 5-7 8-6 at 22:51 (third set 1h09m, match 3h03m).

Sam Lyon (BBC Sport, 22:52 AEDT): "Unbelievable! Against all the odds, Dokic does it. Incredibly, the Australian saves some of her best groundstrokes till the last, and she seals a break to love with a stunning backhand pass down the line to secure a staggering win and send the RLA into absolute raptures. It wasn't always the highest-quality tennis, but golly was it tense. Dokic breaks down at the end, the emotions pouring out of her frail little body, and a million Australian hearts melt."

Sam Smith: "I think the performance tonight reminds me of that really gutsy teenager that I remember when I was playing on the Tour sort of ten years ago. She was pretty special then, and it just shows you that it's still there. The talent is still there."

Chris Bailey: "I hope the left ankle that she turned so badly at the end of that final set doesn't flare up and stiffen up overnight."

I think Chris Bailey has a bit of a crush on Jelena, because at least four times before and during the men's match that followed, he accidentally called Novak �okovic "Dokic"!

Statistics

Jelena had a negative W:UE ratio of 46:58 to Kleybanova's 29:38. Jelena's winner-count improved from 8 for the first set to 15 for the second to 23 for the third, while her corresponding UE-counts were [15, 22, 21]. Kleybanova, on the other hand, recovered from a woeful 7:19 for the first set to a combined 22:19 for the second and third sets (positive in both sets).

Jelena got 59% of her first serves in, winning 69% of the points when she did so, and 44% on second serve. Her first-serve percentages troughed at 47% in and 53% won for the second set, but peaked commendably at 71% in and 76% won for the third set.

Kleybanova also got 59% of her first serves in, but her winning-percentages were slightly worse than Jelena's: 65% on first serve, 42% on second serve. Her first-serve winning-percentage deteriorated slightly from set to set, while she picked up her second-serve winning-percentage from a woeful 29% for the first set.

Both girls served 5 aces (4 of Kleybanova's came in the second set), and Jelena got away with 11 double faults (5 in the first set) to Kleybanova's 3.

Kleybanova had the faster fastest serve (114-106 mph), but Jelena's serves were faster on average: first serve 100-97 mph, second serve 92-74 mph. Well, it's been said before that Jelena has two first serves!

Jelena converted 7 of 17 break-points, while Kleybanova generated less than half as many BPs, but was very efficient at converting them: 6 of 8.

Jelena won 11 of 16 points at the net (69%), while Kleybanova won 7 of 13 (54%). Jelena's net-winning percentages deteriorated from set to set [100%, 63%, 60%], while Kleybanova won 7 of 9 for the first two sets combined, then 0 of 4 for the third set.

In points, Jelena won 125-120 (first set 41-36, second set 35-42, third set 49-42).

Jelena's on-court interview

CHRIS DITTMAR: Jelena, we love you so much, because you are courageous, I tell you! <loud cheer from the crowd>

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, erm. It was always gonna be a tough match tonight. Erm, she's had a great win two nights ago, and she played well, erm. I was really exhausted physically, erm, but I, I just kept on fighting, and the crowd got amazing in that third set. <loud cheer from the crowd>
����������� And erm, it was hard to stay positive in that third set after I lost that second and I was a break down in the third, but, you know, I kept on fighting and erm, it paid off.

CHRIS DITTMAR: Do you know, erm... when you came into this tournament as a wild card, I mean, be honest with us: what did you want? Did you want to win one matches [sic] or two matches?

JELENA DOKIC: I mean: you always want to do well, but erm, you know, I wanted to put up a good performance in the first round, and once I got through that first round, I was really happy. And, erm, my goal kind of, erm, I achieved my goal for the tournament. I wanted to get that first match out of the way.
����������� But erm, this is, er, this is unbelievable. To be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam [sic] is just amazing. <loud cheer from the crowd>

CHRIS DITTMAR: You, erm... you hadn't made any other plans for this week, had you?

JELENA DOKIC: Heh heh heh. Heh. No, I was gonna have the week off, and really was - heh heh! - looking forward to playing Fed Cup next week, and, you know, ah, you know, just have a couple of days off - I haven't had days off in a, in a while - but I guess those plans are scratched now, so! <crowd-laughter>

CHRIS DITTMAR: Now, can I just tell you something? Do you know: after 2006, you were ranked #621 in the world. As of tonight, you're back in the top one hundred. <loud cheer from the crowd>

JELENA DOKIC: It's er... it's great to, to have done so much in one tournament. And, er, my goals for the year were, you know, hopefully to be in the top fifty by the end of the year, but, erm, you know, hopefully... heh heh heh! <crowd-laughter> I guess, I guess those goals are scratched now too - I have to change them as well! But it's, it's amazing, yeah.

CHRIS DITTMAR: Now just before you leave us, I just wanna ask you about your racket-bag here. Who are these... who are these fellows on your racket-bag? Are they the good-luck charms, or? <he points at her racket-bag on the court beside them: six little toy-animals were attached to it by chains>

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it's actually, you know, when it's like 5-5, 6-6 in the third, erm, they're my coaches, you know. They help me; we talk to each other. Heh heh! <crowd-laughter>

CHRIS DITTMAR: Now what are they - do they have names?

JELENA DOKIC: No, erm, just some of my favourite, erm, cartoon-characters, and just, er - heh - just some presents from my coach, so.

CHRIS DITTMAR: I'm glad you think so deep during a match, anyway. Jelena Dokic is through to the quarter-finals! <loud cheer from the crowd>

And my second DVD ran out one minute after Jelena went out of sight! :-)

Jelena's fourth-round press-conference

Source: www.australianopen.com

Q. How does it feel to be in the quarter-finals?

JELENA DOKIC: It's amazing, yeah. I'm still under the impression of the match more than the fact that I'm in the quarter-finals.
����������� I really struggled physically tonight. I was really on my last reserves. She really had me in that third set. To come out and pull it out was great.

Q. How do you think you found the energy to do it?

JELENA DOKIC: When I got on the court, at the beginning, I knew it would be tough because I wasn't feeling great, which is normal. I haven't played this many matches continuously in a long time.
����������� As I won the first set, I kind of got up. I just - my energy and my movement, I was struggling in the second set, and she was hitting some great angles and some really big shots. It's tough against her with the way she plays.
����������� Yeah, my serve went down and everything. I think I was really, really tough mentally today, and that's why I won.

Q. Do you have the capacity to come back for two sets?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I mean, I'm really kind of - when I win match by match, I kind of think, I've done well. Today was the same thing. I honestly didn't expect to win today, even though she hasn't been in this situation that many times. I think she was still the favourite today.
����������� Yeah, the quarter-finals - for me to be at a Grand Slam [sic] to start the year that way is unbelievable. Well, whatever happens doesn't really matter.

Q. Could you have imagined this when you were at your lowest?

JELENA DOKIC: No, definitely not. To come after a three-year layoff and to be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam straightaways really gives you a lot confidence. When I get my match-fitness back to my 100%, and physically and still mentally to improve and get stronger, I think - we see there's a lot of seeds falling. Maybe I can have a chance to do even better at a Grand Slam.

Q. How is your ankle?

JELENA DOKIC: It's okay. It's still warm, and it's only been ten minutes since I got off the court. I think it will be okay.

Q. Was it strapped in advance, or was there a weakness there already?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I just sprained it on that point. Just my foot really got stuck. It was really even a shock. But I kind of just think I lost one point after that, so maybe it was a little bit distracting to her as well.

Q. In terms of the tough matches in your career, physically, emotionally, where does this one rate?

JELENA DOKIC: This was not like that physically exhausting, even though it was a long match. It's just the fact that I wasn't at my - I was at maybe 20% today.
����������� To do it at a Grand Slam is different. Just emotionally and mentally, it's really exhausting.

Q. Can you remember at *1-3 (0/30) in the third, can you remember what you felt or what you were thinking?

JELENA DOKIC: Straightaway when she got a break in the third, you have to think, 'Well, you know, she might win this.' That kind of goes through your head a little bit. I struggled throughout the whole second set. I had so many break-points and so many chances on the serve, and just couldn't get them.
����������� She was starting to break me easily. My serve went down, and not enough first serves in. I think I hit four winners in that game on 3-1 on my serve. I was able to pull it out. It was still only one break in the third set.
����������� I think the experience a little bit today from my side and just mental toughness, just that's probably why I won the third set.

Q. When you rolled your ankle, did you think you would be able to go on?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it goes through your head. I gave it a couple [of] seconds. It was a little bit painful, but I looked at it and it wasn't swollen. Sometimes, when it's a really bad strain, it gets swollen straightaway.
����������� I thought I would try to play a point or two, and if it's not great, I'll call a trainer straightaway. Sometimes with the strains - unless it's a really bad strain - you can play through it because it's still warm.

Q. What's it going to mean to you to represent Australia in Fed Cup?

JELENA DOKIC: It will be amazing. I said that a couple weeks ago when the announcement came out. It will be great to play for Australia again, and I think we really have a good team. Sam's [Stosur] playing well, and we have a good doubles-combination. I think it will be good, and we're playing at home. This is our big chance to get through.

Q. Will it mean more to you knowing that you're getting some confidence back that you can mix it with some of the best players?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, of course. I mean, it's not all up to me. It's a team-competition. There are still singles- and doubles-matches to be won. I had a great time before when I played Fed Cup. I have a good record in Fed Cup. We really pull together.
����������� The girls that are on the team are new to me. I never hung around or travelled with them so much. I think we will do well. We have a good team, good captain.

Q. When you say you're feeling 20% today, you mean as a result of the games you've played now because you're not at full fitness?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, look: every single match I've played has been three sets. I really had to come through in all of them. Actually, I think the match with Chakvetadze in the second round was really exhausting. That was my toughest match until now. Yeah, and I really was so strong mentally. It really drains you.
����������� Like I said: straightaway, the first couple games in the first set, I knew it would be tough, because I was not feeling that great.

Q. You say it doesn't matter. I'm sure the competitor in you wants to grab a quarter-final.

JELENA DOKIC: Of course. I'm not thinking about a semi-final. Just putting in a good match. I'm playing a girl [Dinara Safina] that's two, three in the world, could be number one after this tournament, and is probably the favourite for the tournament at the moment with everybody going out.
����������� This is like [a] really pure match with no pressure on me. Even if I lose easily, it will not be a surprise. I'm playing the number three in the world. I would like to see how I can do against her.

Q. Obviously between now and your match, there will be sleep and food and recovery. How do you stay mentally fresh?

JELENA DOKIC: Actually, mentally I've been... going from every match, I've been unbelievable. Probably stronger and stronger, considering - like I said today - I didn't play my best and didn't feel great really, but kept on going with my head. So that's what pulled me through today.
����������� At times I couldn't even get myself, the crowd going. I couldn't even scream "Come on" anymore, I was so tired. I was really trying. But - like I said - whatever happens, you know, I'll try and recover as best as I can. That's all I can do.

Q. A lot of positive emotions, and it's also been a pretty emotional week. How emotionally draining has that been for you?

JELENA DOKIC: I've been dealing with it great. Like I said, physically it's normal to be tired, which is what I'm feeling. Other than that, all my emotions on court, I'm really controlling them well. I'm really tough mentally, so that's also a surprise to me - after such a long time not playing a lot of tournaments and matches - that I'm able to keep it up.
����������� I'm just really fighting. I'm really determined and fighting. That's sometimes what keeps it going.

Q. What about your coach? Has he come back to work yet? He seems to have trouble controlling his emotions.

JELENA DOKIC: I know it's tough for me to play and go through all those points and disappointments, and highs and lows. I know, even since playing Fed Cup, how draining it is to be on the side. You just want to go in there and play yourself. I'm sure it's unbelievably tough to watch from the sides.

Q. Your dad said he might even make a surprise trip here. Have you had any contact, or do you expect any?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I haven't had any contact. It's the first I heard about it. Yeah, it's his decision.

Q. Would you be open to it if he did come over?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I mean, I've said always my whole story with him is finished. It would have to be an unbelievable miracle for him to change. I don't see that happening.
����������� Yeah, I have my tennis and I have my life. I want to do it that way. I just don't... knowing him, I just don't see any possibilities. We are really different, and really disagree on pretty much everything, so...

Q. What you do you do tomorrow, Jelena?

JELENA DOKIC: Don't know. Sleep. I mean: I'll try to go to bed, which I think will be impossible at this stage. Still so much going on. Have a nice day off. Not think about tennis.

Articles

Dream-match continues for ace Dokic [Teletext 495->496]
>>>
Dokic continues march [Teletext 496]

The former Serbia & Montenegro player faces another Russian - third seed Dinara Safina - for a semi-final place.
<<<

Dokic does it; Aussie into quarter-finals
By Tom Kelly (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
So the fairytale continues.

The value of persistence
By Eleanor Preston (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
You could probably hear the cheers from wherever you are in the world. In case you were wondering what the noise was, it was the sound of Jelena Dokic surviving a determined challenge from Alisa Kleybanova to beat the Russian 7-5 5-7 8-6 and make it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2009.

We would all like to see that, too. It's been quite a ride � and a noisy one at that.
<<<

Dokic Through To First Major Quarter-final Since 2002
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2924
>>>
Nearly seven years after she last appeared in a Major quarter-final, Jelena Dokic is to play No.3 seed Dinara Safina at that stage of the 2009 Australian Open, after another stunning victory on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night. The 25-year-old wildcard, ranked No.187 heading into the event, overcame the resolve of No.29 seed Alisa Kleybanova in a three-hour epic: 7-5 5-7 8-6.

"I'm playing a girl that is two, three in the world, could be number one after this tournament, and is probably the favourite to win it at the moment," said Dokic. "There will be no pressure on me, but I would like to see how I do against her."
<<<

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.

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

Dokic defies odds to reach quarter-finals (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (Editing by Clare Fallon and Alan Baldwin)
>>>
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.

Two years later, Dokic walked out on her family and returned to Australia [she didn't return to Australia until November 2005]. Her relationship with her family has never been the same, but she is trying to patch up things with Australia.

"There is no pressure on me," Dokic said. "Even if I lose easily, it will not be a surprise. I'm playing the number three in the world. I would just like to see how I can do against her."
<<<

"Don't bother coming", Dokic tells father (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by Clare Fallon)
>>>
Jelena Dokic has ruled out any chance of a reconciliation with her estranged father Damir after reports that he wanted to mend their broken relationship.

Jelena followed her father and switched nationalities, representing Serbia and Montenegro before she finally had enough, splitting from her family in 2003, and returning to Australia a year later [not until November 2005].

"Knowing him, I just don't see any possibilities. We are really different, and really disagree on pretty much everything."
<<<

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.

"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."
<<<

Welcome back (AP)
By Tanalee Smith: Associated Press Writer
>>>
Jelena Dokic's surprise run at the Australian Open continued on Sunday with a 7-5 5-7 8-6 win over Russia's Alisa Kleybanova. Even a turned ankle in the third set couldn't stop her from completing the win.

After the match, a courtside television-announcer for Australia's Seven Network - former world No.1-ranked squash-player Chris Dittmar - told her: "This is why we love you so much: you're courageous." Most of the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
<<<

Federer through to quarter-finals, Jankovic out (AP)
By John Pye: AP Sports Writer
>>>
While Jankovic was disappointing in a 6-1 6-4 loss to 2007 Wimbledon-finalist Marion Bartoli, a compelling story emerged in Jelena Dokic's surprising run to the quarter-finals.

The No.187-ranked Dokic will meet Safina after a 7-5 5-7 8-6 win over Russia's Alisa Kleybanova. Afterwards, Dokic was hugged on court in a TV-interview by former-player-turned-analyst Alicia Molik: the last Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals here in 2005 [that was after Jelena's third-round match].

"To be in the quarter-final of a Grand Slam [sic] is just amazing," said Dokic: a former world No.4 and 2000 Wimbledon semi-finalist.
<<<

Dokic progresses in Australian Open (AFP)
>>>
Australian wildcard Jelena Dokic kept her remarkable story going when she upset Russia's Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 5-7 8-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

"It was hard to stay positive when I lost the second set and went down a break in the third, but I just kept on fighting and it paid off," she said.
<<<

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 Aliz� Cornet 6-2 2-6 7-5.

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.
<<<

'Rocky with rackets' as Jelena Dokic reaches Australian Open quarter-final
By Mark Hodgkinson in Melbourne (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
>>>
World No.1 Jelena Jankovic crashed out of the Australian Open to France's Marion Bartoli, but the locals cared only for another Jelena at Melbourne Park: Jelena Dokic.

"My coach told me that if I continue playing like this, he may as well go home," said Safina. "I keep telling myself to hit the ball, but my arm just doesn't want to, because my mind is just stupid."
<<<

Jelena Dokic's wild ride continues in epic match at the Aussie Open (Scott Gullan, Herald Sun)
>>>
Exhausted Jelena Dokic called on her mental strength to carry her through to an unlikely Australian Open quarter-final.

Kleybanova showed her inexperience in the next game, with a wild forehand presenting the local heroine with the opening set 7-5.
<<<

The amazing return of Jelena Dokic
By Martin Rogers (Tennis Experts Blog, Yahoo! Sports)
>>>
The man with the terrifying eyes had been lurking around the Wimbledon-media area for a while, looking for trouble among the press-corps that he despised so much.

Damir Dokic has reportedly claimed he will turn up at Melbourne Park if his daughter reaches the Australian Open final. While such a selfish act would be in character for such an odd and explosive man, hopefully for once he would do the right thing, and allow Jelena a moment of personal glory untainted by his poisonous influence.
<<<

Estranged father won't watch Dokic after snub (Reuters, Monday 26th January)
By Zoran Milosavljevic (Editing by Sonia Oxley)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's estranged father Damir vowed not to watch any more of her matches at the Australian Open after his daughter ruled out any chances of reconciling with him.

"I've always said my whole story with him is finished," she said after the emotional win over Kleybanova.
<<<

Dokic's father not going to Australian Open (AP)
By Dusan Stojanovic: Associated Press Writer
>>>
Jelena Dokic's estranged father has no intention of going to Melbourne to watch his daughter play in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

"I never watch her matches," Dokic said. "I don't need that stress. I have a high blood-pressure."
<<<

Man who makes her smile: Jelena Dokic love-story (Tuesday 27th January)
By Nikki Tugwell (The Daily Telegraph - Australia)
>>>
When Tin Bikic first met Jelena Dokic in 2003, she was a tormented teenager desperate for freedom.

The taunts were reportedly made in reprisal for one of several Damir-rants against Croatia, and his unfounded claim his daughter had been kidnapped by the Croatian brothers.
<<<

Dokic worth dollars and sense
Nikki Tugwell (The Daily Telegraph - Australia)
>>>
She returned to Australia a ruined figure: bruised, broken and penniless.

"To come after a three-year layoff and to be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam [sic] straight away really gives you a lot of confidence," Dokic said. "When I get my match-fitness back to 100%, and physically and mentally improve and get stronger - and we are now seeing a lot of seeds falling - maybe I can have a chance to do even better at a Grand Slam."
<<<

Jelena's cruel twist (Mark Stevens, Herald Sun, Tuesday 27th January)
>>>
Jelena Dokic cancelled a scheduled practice-session yesterday as her Australian Open fairytale took a mysterious twist.

Her fourth-round clash against Kleybanova attracted 2.3 million viewers.
<<<

Dokic's mother breaks silence (The Age / AAP, 27th January)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's mother has backed her daughter's view that leaving Australia for Serbia was the biggest mistake the family ever made.

"With Mum doesn't matter; without Mum, if they are happy, I will be happy too."
<<<

Officials on alert for Damir (The Age, 27th January)
>>>
Jelena Dokic's estranged father Damir will be denied access to his daughter should he attempt to gatecrash her Australian Open party.

"I have my tennis and I have my life. I want to do it that way. Knowing him, I just don't see any possibilities. We are really different, and really disagree on pretty much everything."
<<<

My 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 Aliz� 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 Montr�al, 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 Cibulkov� and Dominik Hrbat�! 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 + ALIZ� 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! ;-)

Prematch articles

Australian Open: QF Preview
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2927
>>>
Rod Laver Arena
(3) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) - Safina leads 1:0

Safina will notice that her opponent's level of power has stood the test of time brilliantly since they last met in 2003; tonight Dokic's serve will need to be resilient, and she'll need to display the same patience that helped in key moments against Kleybanova, Wozniacki and Chakvetadze. It will help that this is her fourth night-time match on Rod Laver Arena, so she is accustomed to the conditions, and once again she'll be able to rely on the raucous support of the home-crowd. Beating one of the hottest players of the past six months may be a bridge too far for the 25-year-old Australian at this stage, but it's not out of the question. Clich� or not, she really has nothing to lose.
<<<

Day 9 preview: A new twist in Dokic's tale
By Mark Stevens (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Tennis has always been regarded as a game of centimetres, but it is also a game of degrees.

But that is irrelevant when the heat comes on tonight. Although the Dokic v Safina show will steal the spotlight, there is a lot more to look forward to today.
<<<

Preview: Dokic fires first shot
By Darren Saligari (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Tonight, Jelena Dokic and Dinara Safina face off for a spot in the semi-finals, but while the match isn't due to begin until 7.30pm Melbourne-time, the mind-games have already started.

It will be an enthralling contest.
<<<

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

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)

Dinara Safina in 2 sets.
<<<

Dokic feels no pressure (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
>>>
Jelena Dokic will ride a wave of Australian patriotism into her quarter-final with third seed Dinara Safina.

Tuesday's second quarter-final pitches France's Marion Bartoli against Russian Vera Zvonar�va.
<<<

Dokic ankle 'okay' as she bids for semi berth (The Canberra Times)
>>>
Jelena Dokic is confident that her ankle and fitness will hold up as she chases an unlikely place in the Australian Open semi-finals.

"I'm playing a girl that's three in the world, could be No.1 after this tournament, and is probably the favourite for the tournament at the moment with everybody [Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams] going out."
<<<

My TV-report

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 Zvonar�va 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 (she was the first woman in Australian Open history to play five consecutive three-setters), 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*. It was amazing that Jelena didn't look that tired in the third set, and she kept it very tight, but Safina played much better than in the first two sets.
����������� 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 by the 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.
����������� 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.

Prematch routine

The match was first on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session, but unfortunately the BBC missed the prematch interviews and the coin-toss, as they were already warming up when coverage began at 19:30 AEDT.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:28 AEDT): "Here come the players after the usual illuminating interviews in the tunnel. I think I can summarise by saying they're both very excited and hoping it's a great match. Me too."

BBC commentator Sam Smith said Jelena's left-ankle injury was just a minor twist - it didn't "swell up like a balloon". Jelena didn't practise at all on Monday, which was going to be a rest-day anyway.

Sam Smith hailed Jelena's "incredible" run here, but wrote off her chances against Safina, who she expected to play much better than against Aliz� Cornet, and who she believed was ready to step up and win a Major.

Chris Bailey: "Whoever wins, they'll have a tough match against Vera Zvonar�va, who is in sparkling form!"
Sam Smith: "Zvonar�va: don't underestimate her: she's ready to step up!"

Sam Smith said it could be the hottest week in Melbourne for 100 years!

First set

DOKIC   * *@*    4
SAFIN @* *   *@* 6

The match started at 19:36 AEDT.

Jelena serving 0-0: Safina deep forehand return down the line + crosscourt forehand winner. 0/15. Safina forehand just long. 15/15. Jelena netted a forehand. 15/30. Deep serve: backhand return long. 30/30. Safina hit a crosscourt forehand deep into the corner to force a defensive forehand lob, and dispatched it with a crosscourt backhand drive-volley winner. 30/40 (BP). Jelena hit a down-the-line backhand just long.

A worrying start for Jelena.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:40 AEDT): "Dokic's fitness could be a factor tonight. Not only is it ridiculously hot, but she hasn't played this many top-level matches for some time. Safina plays aggressively to break serve straight away."

Safina serving 1-0: A deep, body-jamming serve forced Jelena to net an off-backhand return. 15/0. Safina wasted a Hawk-Eye challenge on a first serve that was called wide, then on the third stroke, dumped a backhand into the net. 15/15. Serve out wide induced Jelena to hit a forehand long. 30/15. A deep off-forehand return forced Safina to hit a backhand return long. 30/30. Ace out wide: just inside the sideline. 40/30. Jelena backhand long.

Safina is sweating profusely, and Jelena is a bit too!

Jelena serving 0-2: Virtual ace down the middle. 15/0. Jelena on the third stroke netted a backhand. 15/15. Safina forehand long (her previous shot looked long too). 30/15. First serve down the middle forced a short return, which Jelena dispatched with an easy crosscourt forehand winner. 40/15. Safina backhand long.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:45 AEDT): "A huge roar greets Dokic as she gets herself on the scoreboard, but Safina still has the break. The winner of this match will face Vera Zvonar�va in the semi-finals. She beat Marion Bartoli earlier, which means an all-Russian semi-final line-up remains a possibility."

Sam Smith wrote off Jelena because her tank was running on empty, saying the key would be - as it so often is with Jelena - how well she moves her feet.

Safina serving 2-1: Safina pounced on a short return with a crosscourt backhand winner. 15/0. Safina netted a forehand. 15/15. Jelena hit a backhand return wide off a deep serve down the middle. 30/15. Safina hit an error-forcing off-forehand, but it was just wide. 30/30. Jelena netted a backhand on the fourth stroke, and muttered. 40/30. First serve out wide: backhand return long and wide.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:51 AEDT): "Already a few worried glances from Dokic to her boyfriend and coach in the stands. Very solid start from Safina here."

Sam Smith: "The difference with this year's Safina is the physique. She looks like a different woman from 12 months ago."

Jelena serving 1-3: First serve out wide + forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Safina backhand long. 30/0. Jelena hit a crosscourt backhand close to the sideline, forcing Safina to net a backhand. 40/0. Safina on the fourth stroke netted a forehand.

Not much resistance from Safina in that game. The commentators said she needs to be winning easily to keep the crowd out.

Safina will become world #1 if she wins this match AND neither Serena Williams nor Elena Dementieva reaches the final.

Safina serving 3-2: Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/15. Jelena crosscourt backhand virtual winner. 0/30. Safina forced a floater, went to the net, but hit a wild crosscourt forehand drive-volley wide. Jelena raised her fist. 0/40 (BP #1). Jelena on the fourth stroke hit a crosscourt forehand just wide. 15/40 (BP #2). Safina on the third stroke hit a backhand just long.

Well, well! A very sloppy service-game by Safina there!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 19:55 AEDT): "Nothing particularly complicated about Dokic's game: big, flat groundstrokes into the space. The Australian gets the crowd involved for the first time, pumping her fist as she earns three break-back points. Safina obliges with a backhand over the baseline, and we're back on serve."

Sam Smith: "If Dokic is allowed to swing away and keep the points short, she might get in this!"

Jelena serving 3-3: Jelena on the third stroke netted a forehand. 0/15. Jelena painted the sideline with a crosscourt forehand winner. 15/15. Safina hit a crosscourt backhand deep into the corner, forcing Jelena to bunt a backhand long. 15/30. Ace #1: out wide, just inside the sideline. 30/30. Double fault (second serve into the net). Jelena looks dismayed. 30/40 (BP #1). Jelena's down-the-line backhand clipped the netcord and turned into quite an effective dropshot; Safina ran it down and poked a short forehand crosscourt; Jelena hit a clever deep forehand lob over Safina's left shoulder, forcing her to hit a backhand overhead wide. 40/40. Safina's defensive lob landed just long. Ad Jelena. Double fault (second serve into the net). Deuce #2. Jelena forehand just long. Ad Safina (BP #2). Jelena's crosscourt forehand forced Safina to hit a forehand long. Deuce #3. A long rally ended with Safina hitting a crosscourt forehand wide. Ad Jelena. Her off-forehand forced Safina to block a crosscourt backhand just wide.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:03 AEDT): "A double fault brings a disappointed sigh from the crowd, and gives Safina another break-point. But Dokic sends up a perfect lob, and Safina - who hasn't got the quickest wheels in the world - can't get back to deal with it. Dokic leads for the first time."

Jelena's being allowed to play well by not having to move so much.

Chris Bailey said it was a matter of Jelena warming up rather than being knackered from the start. That's not surprising if she didn't practise yesterday!

Sam Smith: "Good players are getting tight against Dokic out here! I can't believe how tight Safina is. She's not moving particularly well, and she's sucking in air after every point, which is a sign of how nervous she is. I thought she would come out and win this easily."

Safina serving 3-4 (new balls): Backhand return just long. 15/0. Double fault (second serve into the net). 15/15. Jelena netted a forehand return. 30/15. Jelena forehand long. 40/15. Jelena netted a backhand.

Jelena serving 4-4: Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/15. Jelena netted a forehand. 0/30. Big second serve induced Safina to hit a forehand return long. 15/30. Safina backhand just wide. 30/30. Safina forced a defensive lob and hit a forehand smash-winner. 30/40 (BP). A deep return induced Jelena to hit a forehand long.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:11 AEDT): "Safina, who is insisting on being called SAFina this year with the emphasis on the Saf, gets herself into the perfect position to put away the smash, and gives it a loud 'come on' as she breaks again. She'll serve for the set, but I wouldn't go counting any chickens."

Two sloppy games by Jelena. Sam Smith: "A little energy-dip, and Safina finally beginning to find more width [to exploit that]."

Safina serving 5-4: Ace out wide. 15/0. Jelena backhand long. She definitely looked tired after that point. 30/0. Jelena mishit a backhand long. 40/0 (SP #1). Jelena dumped a backhand return halfway up the net. Safina won the first set 6-4 at 20:13 (37 minutes).

Jelena looks exhausted now, and is mishitting shot after shot - especially on her backhand.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:13 AEDT): "Hmm. It turns out you would have been quite safe to count those chickens. Safina serves it out to love. Not sure Dokic has got enough in the tank to take this to three sets, but we'll see."

Second set

DOKIC *@*  @*  @ 6
SAFIN    *@  *@  4

Jelena serving 0-0: Jelena forehand wide off a deep ball from Safina. 0/15. Serve out wide forced a short return; Jelena hit an easy backhand winner down the line. 15/15. Jelena left a down-the-line forehand return, but it caught the baseline for a winner. 15/30. A deep second serve out wide induced Safina to hit a crosscourt backhand return long. 30/30. Jelena punished a short return with a crosscourt backhand winner. 40/30. Jelena went to the net, but Safina hit a forehand pass-winner down the line. 40/40. Serve out wide + crosscourt backhand forced Safina to net a backhand. Ad Jelena. Jelena on the third stroke hit a backhand just long. Deuce #2. Service-winner out wide. Ad Jelena. She stranded Safina with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a virtual forehand winner down the line.

Safina serving 0-1: Safina forehand long. 0/15. Double fault (second serve long). 0/30. Deep second serve: forehand return long. 15/30. Jelena tried to squeeze a forehand down the line, but it was just wide. 30/30. Double fault (second serve into the net). 30/40 (BP #1). Jelena mishit a crosscourt backhand wide. 40/40. Double fault (second serve just wide). Ad Jelena (BP #2). First serve out wide: Jelena picked off a brilliant down-the-line backhand return-winner onto the sideline!

Very glad that Jelena made Safina pay for an awful service-game there!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:24 AEDT): "Ropey old match this on Rod Laver Arena: neither player exactly shining - but we could yet witness drama. The crowd are again on their feet as Dokic breaks."

Jelena serving 2-0: Safina crosscourt forehand return-winner. 0/15. Safina crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. Jelena muttered. 0/30. Serve out wide induced a crosscourt forehand return wide. 15/30. Jelena dumped a forehand halfway up the net off a deep ball from Safina. 15/40 (BP #1). Ace down the middle: on the centre-line. 30/40 (BP #2). Service-winner out wide. 40/40. Safina spread Jelena, forcing her to dump a backhand halfway up the net. Ad Safina (BP #3). Backhand return long. Deuce #2. Jelena forced a short lob, and hit an error-forcing crosscourt backhand. Ad Jelena. A deep ball from Safina induced Jelena to hit a backhand long. Deuce #3. Jelena netted a backhand. Ad Safina (BP #4). Jelena stranded Safina with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: just inside the sideline. Deuce #4. First serve out wide forced Safina to hit a forehand return long. Ad Jelena. Safina's mishit forehand return landed on the baseline, and Jelena netted a forehand three strokes later. Deuce #5. Jelena hit a down-the-line forehand winner that caught the back edge of the baseline... except it didn't, according to Hawk-Eye when Safina challenged. Ad Safina (BP #5). Good first serve forced Safina to hit a backhand return long. Deuce #6. A longish baseline-rally ended with Safina netting a simple forehand. Ad Jelena. Safina netted a backhand, and Jelena celebrated with a loud "c'mon" and a fist-pump.

A very important hold for Jelena, as she's looking exhausted but Safina is playing very craply. Vera Zvonar�va must be licking her lips if she's watching this to check out her semi-final opponent!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:24 AEDT): "Safina slams her racquet into the court Marat-style as a third break-point slips by. Dokic somehow comes through the game, but still neither player looks comfortable. The crowd don't care, though. They are making a terrific noise."

Safina serving 0-3: Jelena netted a backhand. 15/0. Jelena netted a forehand off a deep ball from Safina. 30/0. Ace down the middle. 40/0. Serve out wide + crosscourt forehand winner in the corner.

Jelena serving 3-1: Jelena's short, very acute-angled crosscourt forehand forced Safina way outside the tramlines to scoop back a defensive forehand, but Jelena netted a down-the-line forehand with the court wide open. 0/15. Jelena defended well early in the rally, then spread Safina with a crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand to force a floater from Safina; Jelena went to the net, but hit an off-forehand drive-volley right back to Safina, who replied with a dipping crosscourt backhand; Jelena hit an off-backhand drop-volley, but it wasn't good enough; Safina ran it down easily and pushed a forehand down the line, forcing Jelena to stretch wide and net a backhand volley - much to the disappointment of the crowd, who got really involved in that rally! 0/30. A deep ball from Safina forced Jelena to hit a forehand long. 0/40 (BP #1). First serve down the middle + off-forehand winner just inside the sideline. 15/40 (BP #2). Deep serve out wide + crosscourt forehand forced Safina to hit a forehand lob long. 30/40 (BP #3). Safina backhand just long. 40/40. Double fault #4 (second serve into the net). Ad Safina (BP #4). Jelena hit a forehand long to give Safina the break back.

It's a real shame Jelena went into this match exhausted with Safina on this kind of form. I think Safina will win this, but be hammered by Vera in the semis.

Sam Smith: "How aware is Jelena of how badly Safina's playing out here? It's just a matter of connecting the dots and it's a set all!"

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:39 AEDT): "Safina breaks back. We've hit the half-century of unforced errors. Don't get me wrong - I love a bit of drama - but I am hoping this doesn't go to a third..."

Safina serving 2-3: Double fault (second serve long). 0/15. Jelena netted a forehand. She shook her head. 15/15. Safina forehand just long. 15/30. Jelena down-the-line backhand just wide. 30/30. A longish baseline-rally ended with Jelena hitting an off-forehand winner. 30/40 (BP). Safina went to the net, but an awkward dipping crosscourt backhand from Jelena forced her to net a backhand volley.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:45 AEDT): "The noise inside Rod Laver Arena is by far the best thing about this match. Dokic breaks again: the highlight of the game a lovely off-forehand."

Jelena stood with her hand on her hip, looking exhausted.

Jelena serving 4-2: First serve on the service-line forced Safina to net a forehand. 15/0. Quadruple fault (second serves into the net on both points). Jelena muttered. 15/30. Jelena hit a deep forehand down Safina's forehand-sideline, forcing her to net a forehand. 30/30. Service-winner out wide. 40/30. First serve out wide + crosscourt forehand winner.

Wow - for someone with an empty tank, that was a brilliant recovery from 15/30!

Safina serving 2-5: Serve out wide: forehand return long. 15/0. First serve: Jelena hit a forehand return halfway up the net. 30/0. First serve out wide forced Jelena to earth a mishit forehand. 40/0. First serve: forehand return long.

Safina finds the first serves to hold to love and put the pressure back on Jelena immediately, as she serves for the set...

Jelena serving 5-3: Jelena forehand long. 0/15. Safina pounced on a short forehand with a crosscourt backhand winner into the corner. 0/30. Safina crosscourt forehand winner onto the sideline. 0/40 (BP #1). Serve out wide + crosscourt forehand winner. 15/40 (BP #2). Safina hit a deep forehand down the line, forcing Jelena to bunt a one-handed backhand wide.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 20:53 AEDT): "Safina holds quite comfortably to leave Dokic serving for the second set. But Safina breaks back. The Russian has won four of 15 break-points in this match."

Safina's doing another 'Safina' to recover from *2-5. She played much better in the last two games (which, to be honest, is not difficult).

Sam Smith said it was amazing how stressed the top women have got at this year's Australian Open - including Caroline Wozniacki against Jelena!

Safina serving 4-5: First serve out wide: crosscourt forehand return wide. 15/0. Double fault #7 (second serve long). 15/15. First serve down the middle forced Jelena to hit a backhand wide. 30/15. Double fault #8 (second serve clipped the netcord and fell wide). 30/30. First serve out wide forced a short return, which Safina dispatched with an easy crosscourt forehand winner. 40/30. A crosscourt-forehand drill ended with a deep one from Jelena forcing Safina to net one. 40/40. Double fault #9 (second serve long). Ad Jelena (SP #1). First serve wide. A well-timed beep from the crowd perhaps induced Safina to double-fault by hitting her second serve into the net. Safina won the second set 6-4 at 20:59 AEDT (second set 46m, match so far 1h23m).

A chain-reaction of double faults from Safina, and Jelena goes three sets for the fifth time in a row - an Australian Open record!

Chris Bailey: "For a world number-three, that serve is an embarrassment to the women's game."
Sam Smith: "It's technically horrible. No one cares about the standard of this match, but it's not a great advert for women's tennis."

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:00 AEDT): "Safina has a point for 5-5, but slaps a forehand into the net. The Russian's serve has deserted her, and after a double fault, she again slams her racquet down - prompting some pantomime 'oohs' from the crowd. Another double fault gives Dokic the set. Someone asked earlier if Safina looked like she might choke. I think she just answered that herself. Goody. A third set."

Third set

DOKIC   * * *@   4
SAFIN @* * *  @* 6

Jelena serving 0-0: A slow first serve out wide - right in the corner - induced Safina to mishit a forehand lob-return wide. 15/0. A deep, body-jamming second serve - just inside the service-line - induced Safina to earth a forehand return. 30/0. A long rally with a couple of sliced backhands from Jelena ended with her hitting a crosscourt forehand wide. 30/15. Safina on the fourth stroke netted a backhand. 40/15. A longish baseline-rally ended with Safina hitting a crosscourt backhand winner. 40/30. Jelena forehand long. 40/40. Jelena hit a forehand just long, and wasted a Hawk-Eye challenge. Ad Safina (BP). Jelena hit a forehand long to go a break down immediately.

Safina serving 1-0: Jelena hit a crosscourt forehand winner off a lob from Safina, and her footwork was pretty encouraging. 0/15. Jelena forehand long. 15/15. Crosscourt forehand return just wide. 30/15. Jelena netted a backhand return. 40/15. Jelena painted the sideline with a scorching crosscourt backhand winner! 40/30. Double fault #11 (second serve into the net). 40/40. Jelena stranded Safina with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: just inside the sideline! Ad Jelena (BP). Jelena netted a forehand. Deuce #2. Deep first serve into the corner forced Jelena to hit a forehand long. Ad Safina. Loud birds in the stadium. Jelena hit a deep, flairsome, error-forcing off-backhand into the corner. Deuce #3. Jelena forehand just long. Ad Safina. Jelena's deep crosscourt forehand induced Safina to net a forehand. Deuce #4. Safina's crosscourt forehand forced Jelena to earth a chopped forehand. Ad Safina. First serve out wide induced Jelena to net a backhand return, and Safina celebrated with a loud "c'mon".

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:15 AEDT): "Dokic smacks a trademark double-hander crosscourt to save one game-point, and then Safina double-faults - FOR THE 11TH TIME. Dokic arrows a forehand down the line to make it break-point, but nets a forehand. A few more deuces, but Safina scrapes through the game, consolidating the break she earned in the opening game."

Jelena may be *0-2 down, but she had game-point in both games!

Sam Smith: "Dokic may be physically exhausted, but mentally she's right there. She might even be mentally stronger than the world #3!"

Jelena serving 0-2: Safina stranded Jelena with a crosscourt forehand, and hit a forehand winner down the line. 0/15. First serve out wide forced Safina to hit a crosscourt backhand return long. 15/15. A deep ball from Jelena just inside the baseline forced Safina to hit a forehand just long. 30/15. Ace out wide. 40/15. Jelena went to the net, forcing Safina to hit a crosscourt forehand wide.

Sam Smith: "Although Safina's a great ball-striker, I question whether she can feel the ball well. Dokic has great feel, and far better timing. Safina doesn't have any natural timing at all - just great physique."

Safina serving 2-1: Safina crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand winner caught the outside edge of the sideline. 15/0. Jelena's penetrating forehand down the line forced Safina to hit a crosscourt backhand wide. 15/15. Jelena netted a forehand return. 30/15. Safina's deep off-forehand, with Safina threatening to go to the net, forced Jelena to net a backhand. 40/15. Ace out wide.

Jelena serving 1-3: Jelena, driven wide, cracked a brilliant forehand winner down the line: it caught the outside edge of the sideline! 15/0. Serve out wide: Safina netted a backhand return. 30/0. Jelena sprayed a forehand long. 30/15. Jelena forehand long. 30/30. First serve out wide. 40/30. First serve out wide: backhand return long.

If Jelena could somehow recover the break and pull this out, she'd have a mouthwatering semi-final with Vera that might well be on the Rod Laver Arena evening-session = televised by the BBC! Otherwise, the semi-finals will be in the day-session, as usual, and not televised by the BBC! :-||

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:25 AEDT): "Dokic is in a bit of trouble at 15/30 on serve, but comes right back. Apparently, she'll be back in the top 100 after this week regardless of what happens today."

Safina serving 3-2: Jelena's deep crosscourt backhand on the sideline forced Safina to hit a one-handed backhand that clipped the netcord and fell back on her side. 0/15. Jelena crosscourt forehand just wide. She challenged it: Hawk-Eye showed that it was plumb on the line! So they replayed the point: Jelena's deep forehand return forced Safina to hit a forehand wide. 0/30. Jelena crosscourt forehand + crosscourt backhand just wide. 15/30. Safina forced a floater and hit a down-the-line backhand winner just inside the baseline. 30/30. Jelena spread Safina, her crosscourt forehand just inside the baseline forcing Safina to net a forehand. 30/40 (BP). Jelena crosscourt forehand wide. 40/40. First serve out wide: Jelena netted a forehand. Ad Safina. Deep serve forced Jelena to hit an off-forehand return wide. Jelena muttered, and looked very disappointed.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:31 AEDT): "Massive cheers on Rod Laver Arena as Dokic correctly challenges a call. Safina - her serve back on track for now - nails a wrong-footing backhand to make it 30/30, but Dokic produces a brave forehand, which lands right in the corner. Break-point... but the Aussie is a little slow to a forehand, and sees it fly into the trams. Safina clings on again. I imagine Federer and del Potro - waiting in the locker-room - are as gripped by this as we all are."

Jelena serving 2-4: Double fault (wild second serve long). 0/15. Deep first serve forced Safina to hit a forehand long. 15/15. Jelena forehand long. 15/30. Jelena spread Safina from side to side, culminating with a crosscourt forehand + down-the-line forehand winner just inside the baseline. 30/30. First serve out wide forced Safina to net a forehand return. 40/30. Jelena hit a first serve just wide of the centre-line, it seemed, but she challenged it and it was plumb on the centre-line, so it was an ace!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:34 AEDT): "Hawk-Eye is the crowd's new darling as Dokic challenges correctly again - and it wins her the game. Safina, with her unpredictable serve, will surely need a double break to seal this one."

Chris Bailey: "I don't think [Jelena's] energy is an issue. I think the crowd will give her all the energy she needs."

Safina serving 4-3: Safina crosscourt forehand + pinpoint forehand winner down the sideline. 15/0. Jelena crosscourt backhand + pinpoint backhand winner down the line: on the sideline. 15/15. Safina wasted a challenge on her first serve; Jelena stranded her with an off-forehand, came to the net and hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand. 15/30. Jelena netted a backhand return. 30/30. Safina forced a short lob from Jelena, but netted a backhand. 30/40 (BP #1). Safina's down-the-line forehand forced Jelena to hit a backhand lob just wide. 40/40. Safina opened up the court, but hit a crosscourt backhand wide. She got a code-violation for coaching. Ad Jelena (BP #2). Jelena broke back with a flairsome crosscourt backhand winner back behind Safina!

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:39 AEDT): "Dokic scoops the ball over, and Safina gets the backhand all wrong, whacking it into the net. Break-point... but Dokic goes wide. Deuce... but Safina goes wide. It is now that the umpire decides to give Safina an official warning for receiving coaching from the stands. Seems a little bit harsh. Dokic swings a backhand out wide to break back, prompting more deafening cheers from the crowd."

Sam Smith: "Not quite sure how Dokic is maintaining such consistency, and looking her game so solid, when she's just really been playing such low-division tennis for the last sort of five or six months. Where do you pull this sort of performance out of the bag from?"
Chris Bailey: "Class is permanent."

Jelena serving 4-4: Safina crosscourt backhand wide. 15/0. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell wide of the tramlines). 15/15. Safina backhand winner down the line. 15/30. Jelena forced a very short ball from Safina and was right there, but netted an easy backhand. 15/40 (BP #1). Safina forehand return long. She challenged the serve: Hawk-Eye showed that it was plumb on the sideline. 30/40 (BP #2). Safina backhand just long. 40/40. A nailbiting rally ended with Safina hitting an off-forehand would-be winner just wide, and Safina used up her last challenge. Ad Jelena. Safina played a good spreading rally; Jelena defended well with a couple of moonballs when stretched wide, but the second was too short; Safina hit a forehand down the middle behind Jelena, forcing her to bunt an off-forehand wide. Deuce #2. First serve out wide - on the junction of sideline and service-line - forced Safina to bunt a forehand return long. Ad Jelena. She opened up the court with a first serve out wide - deep in the corner - and went for a backhand winner down the line, but it was just wide. Deuce #3. Safina's deep crosscourt backhand onto the baseline forced Jelena to hit a backhand lob long. Ad Safina (BP #3). Jelena blasted a wild forehand very long.

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:49 AEDT): "Courageous stuff from Dokic. She saves one break-point with a big serve out wide, and then makes it deuce when she forces the mistake with some huge hitting. Safina uses up her last challenge by incorrectly going to Hawk-Eye - but then reels off three points in a row to break again. She just has to serve it out now..."

Jelena looks sad at the changeover, shaking her head as she sat down. I get the impression she's not far from tears.

Sam Smith: "This young woman reads the game brilliantly, and this has been an exceptional effort tonight."

Safina serving 5-4: Second serve: Jelena hit a backhand winner down Safina's backhand-sideline. 0/15. Jelena's crosscourt forehand on the fourth stroke induced Safina to net a forehand. 0/30. Jelena chopped a forehand just long, looked at her camp twice, challenged it, and Hawk-Eye showed that it caught the back edge of the baseline! Replay: first serve out wide + down-the-line forehand forced Jelena to earth a backhand. Jelena looked sad. 15/30. Safina forehand just long. 15/40 (BP #1). Safina hit a pinpoint forehand down the line, forcing Jelena to net a backhand. 30/40 (BP #2). Ace #5: out wide: right in the corner. 40/40. Jelena crosscourt backhand just long. Ad Safina (MP #1). Safina caught her first-serve toss, and was booed by the crowd. First-serve let. First serve into the net. Second serve down the middle: forehand return down the middle; Safina hit a deep forehand down the middle; Jelena hit a deep crosscourt forehand; Safina hit a crosscourt forehand back down the middle, and Jelena smacked a forehand into the tape at the top of the net. Safina won 6-4 4-6 6-4 at 21:55 AEDT (third set 56m, match 2h19m).

Caroline Cheese (BBC Sport, 21:56 AEDT): "Safina is forced into another error to give Dokic two break-points. The Russian finds her serve at the right time, though, and when Dokic goes long, it's match-point - with Rod Laver Arena stunned into silence. The Aussie slaps a tired forehand into the net, and the dream is over. Safina goes through."

Jelena waved to the crowd as she walked off the court: back to the locker-room, where there would be weeping and grinding of teeth.

Statistics

Jelena had a W:UE ratio of 29:54, which just isn't good enough against Safina (23:36). Jelena increased her winner-count from set to set [6, 11, 12] without her UE-count changing much, while Safina cut down her UEs to just 9 in the third set.

Jelena served 4 aces and 8 double faults, Safina 5 aces and a monstrous 11 double faults (8 in the second set including the four at *4-5).

Safina got 61% of her first serves in, winning 72% of the points when she did so, but only 38% on second serve. From the second set to the third, she apparently took some pace off her first serves in order to get more in, as her first-serves-in percentage increased from 50% to 72%, while her first-serve winning-percentage decreased from 73% to 68%.

Jelena got 64% of her first serves in, winning 56% of the points when she did so, and 50% on second serve. She improved her first-serve percentages from (52% in, 59% won) in the first set to (72% in, 62% won) for the second, but they dropped to (65% in, 46% won) for the third set (in which she won 69% of her second-serve points).

Jelena's fastest serve was 109mph to Safina's 108mph. Safina had a slightly faster average first serve (101mph) than Jelena (100mph), but Jelena's second serve was significantly faster (94mph) than Safina's (87mph).

Considering Jelena's average serve-speeds together with her winning-percentages, we may conclude that there was only a small difference between how she hit her first and second serves.

Safina won 7 of 11 points at the net (64%), while Jelena won 4 of 7 (57%) after not going to the net at all in the first set.

Safina converted 6 of 19 BPs (32%), while Jelena generated fewer BPs but had a more efficient conversion-rate: 5 of 12 (42%). But at the end of the day, it's simply the number of breaks that matters: Safina broke twice in each set, but while Jelena broke three times in the second set, she only broke once in the other two. Safina only converted 2 of 11 BPs in the second set, while Jelena would be very disappointed that she only converted 1 of 6 in the third - particularly that she let Safina off the hook at 0-1*, 2-3* and 4-5*.

In points, Safina won 112-104 (first set 31-28, second set 39-38, third set 42-48). It's not often that you win a set despite winning fewer points than your opponent, as Jelena won the second!

Safina's on-court interview

ALICIA MOLIK: <microphone off> What a match, huh? <they kissed each other on the cheeks> What if you stand there, ??so your face is exposed??, okay? <microphone on> Well, erm. Congratulations, Dinara. Today, or tonight, you weren't just playing Jelena Dokic, but Jelena Dokic and this entire stadium and crowd. How did that feel?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, er... of course it's not easy, but I hope, erm, from today and next match, I will have more crowd behind my back! <crowd-laughter and loud applause>

ALICIA MOLIK: Erm, a noticeable difference to me in you and your game is obviously the shape that you're in: it's quite incredible, the way you move around the court. How many off-seasons have you had in your entire career?

DINARA SAFINA: Sorry, how many?

ALICIA MOLIK: In total: the total of off-seasons you've had in your entire career.

DINARA SAFINA: Er, you mean how many weeks I've been practising, or?

ALICIA MOLIK: No. You've been on the professional circuit, what, seven, eight years now? But the difference in this last off-season compared to the ones before. You're in incredible shape. It's absolutely amazing. Tell us the secret!

DINARA SAFINA: Well, er, hah hah! Secret? Well, for what? That my opponents know? Ner, ner. Er, well, secret, er. There is, er, two guys - one with a red T-shirt and one with a grey T-shirt. They make me work hard. But the one [with the red T-shirt] is on the phone already.

ALICIA MOLIK: He's organising practice for tomorrow. Now it's, erm, your next opponent is Vera Zvonar�va. It's past her bed-time and she's probably in her pyjamas tonight [not in this heat, I hope!], watching this match. Is there a message that you have for her for Thursday night or Thursday afternoon?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, erm, you know, it's, er, if I would play during the day, with the heat, that was... that is different, but I played tonight. Okay: I spent some calories, two hours running, so now I'll have some good dinner. And erm, you know, er, I went already through tough conditions in Beijing, so this, I have plenty of time to relax. <crowd-laughter>

ALICIA MOLIK: And what about for Vera? What message do you have for Vera?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, she's a great player, you know. We played, er, many times last year. This our first meeting this year, you know. I just, erm, hope it's gonna be a good match that we both can enjoy, and the crowd enjoy, and, you know, who deserves to win will win. So, I just hope it's gonna be a great match.

ALICIA MOLIK: Well, Dinara, it's been a pleasure to play against you [Molik retired with a 2:0 head-to-head against Safina], and it was more of a pleasure tonight to watch you, so congratulations, and best of luck for the rest of the tournament.

DINARA SAFINA: Thanks. Sorry that I had to defeat today your Australian. I hope you'll be behind me next time. I'm sorry. <loud cheer from the crowd>

Jelena's quarter-final press-conference

Source: www.australianopen.com

Q. Looking forward, what do you take out of this match?

JELENA DOKIC: I think it was a good match. Physically I was not in my best shape. Yeah, it was good. I played three sets with the number-three player in the world. Everything is positive. I've had a great tournament.
����������� Yeah, it's a little bit disappointing. I had some chances, even in that third set, and couldn't hold my serve. Had a lot of game-points in each game.
����������� Sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't. There's nothing to be disappointed about.

Q. Did the ankle play any part? How has that been?

JELENA DOKIC: No, it was okay. It was fine.

Q. So no disruption?

JELENA DOKIC: No.

Q. How do you sum up this whole experience of the past week?

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said, it's been a great start to 2009. I couldn't have asked for anything more. 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.
����������� But, yeah, like I said, there's absolutely nothing to be disappointed about.

Q. You were really tired after the other match the other night. How well did you pull up for tonight?

JELENA DOKIC: Every match is more of a struggle for me than other players, because I haven't played this much in a long time. Considering all that, I still think I pulled up pretty well after each match.

Q. Can you tell us what you learned personally about yourself, and where you're at in life?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I think a lot of things still haven't sunk in. Still, even to play three sets with her today is a good effort. I still think I didn't play that good today like maybe I did in the last few matches, especially on some important points.
����������� Yeah, sometimes it goes this way. I had my chances; she had hers. Yeah, I just have to try and learn from today, and use it next time when I play her.

Q. Has it given you a sense of where you're at in life now?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I mean, look, tennis is my main focus right now. Looking forward to next week and then the Fed Cup. Just want to try and keep it going, and have a consistent year.

Q. Does this result give you the confidence as you approach the bigger tournaments, and maybe ask for wild cards and rather than playing some of the smaller events to build your ranking up?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't think I will play any smaller tournaments. I think my ranking itself will get me in enough tournaments. I don't think I will go back and play challengers [ITF Women's Circuit]. I think there's no sense in doing that.

Q. Do you have to reassess your goals now? You said you wanted to get yourself in the top 100. Will you reassess now?

JELENA DOKIC: No, I'm in the top 100 now. Yeah, like I said, I would like to continue playing WTA tournaments. I don't think I will go back and play ITF tournaments. I think there's really no reason to do that.
����������� You know, there is a possibility for me to continue doing well from here on. You know, I can also lose some matches. It's normal. It's been a real high this week playing in front of a home-crowd, so I have to see how it will go from now on.
����������� I think Fed Cup is also another very good possibility for me just to see, again, where I'll be in a week's time, and how well I will handle the matches.

Q. Can you say what this week has done in terms of your belief that you made the right choice in coming back to tennis?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I mean, definitely made the right choice. I have really fought well this week. Yeah, I mean: I have no regrets. I just would like to keep it going. I really would like to keep it going. I really think I have a chance at it.
����������� Like I said, I played well with a girl who's number three in the world today. 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.
����������� Yeah, I mean: I just have to just keep on working hard, basically.

Q. You said before that you're not in the best shape that you could be. How long will it be before we see you at a 100%?

JELENA DOKIC: I think it's obvious that I'm not in the best shape. You cannot be after a three-year layoff. I've done as much as I can off the court. Nothing can replace matches and match-fitness. I still have a long way to go physically, I think.
����������� Like I said, these girls play week in and week out for years already, and I haven't done that. For me to get into a quarter-finals of a Grand Slam [sic] is a huge deal. I still think there's a lot of improvement.

Q. Did the roller-coaster ride that everyone took with you, did that take you by surprise?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it's been great. I've had a great time here and really enjoyed the matches - even today. Yeah, went up and down today as well. Could have pulled it through, but I just don't think I had it in me. Just wasn't able to fight through fatigue.
����������� So I gave it my best - even in the last game. I got a really bad call at Love/30, and, you know, I pretty much won that point with the bad call. You never know. If it was five-all in the third, maybe I could have pulled it through.
����������� Yeah, it's been great. It's been really great. I really look forward to playing here next year, and for the rest of the year.

Q. Take us through that call.

JELENA DOKIC: The Love/30 call? I think the slice that I hit was clear - it was clearly in, obviously. It was not even on the back of the line. It was like in the middle of the line.
����������� It was a little bit disappointing. But, yeah, I mean, sometimes that's the way things go. You know, in the end, I guess she deserved to win.

Q. You talk about your boyfriend's support during your comeback. What's he been like during the tournament here?

JELENA DOKIC: Like he always has. I don't think there is anything different. You're with someone for six years, so there's nothing special there. We go through the good and the bad. That's basically it.

Q. You've had great results at Wimbledon and the French Open in the past. What do you think is your best surface?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't prefer clay. I think that's my worst surface. Even though I have really good results on clay-court, I prefer hard courts. I've won tournaments on all the surfaces. You try to adjust. You know, I don't love playing on clay.
����������� I also played a lot on clay last year. The ITF tournaments - that was my choice to do it the harder way. I think hard court is probably my best surface.

Q. Optimistically looking forward to your next Grand Slam and Wimbledon?

JELENA DOKIC: Looking forward to the next tournament. I think I play every tournament the same. Yeah, Roland Garros: I've done well there, Wimbledon also. Maybe another goal would be to do well at the US Open.

Q. Have you spoken to any of your Fed Cup teammates this week? And have they told you how they feel about you coming back into the [team] tomorrow? [sic]

JELENA DOKIC: No, I mean: I don't know all the girls that well. Yeah, we try to talk. It's been, I guess, a little bit difficult with me generally coming back to Australia. David Taylor has been great. I try to communicate with the girls as much as I can. It's normal. I think we'll have a good team. We'll all come together when Fed Cup starts.
����������� I don't know Casey [Dell'Acqua] and Sam [Stosur] so much. Probably Rennae [Stubbs]. I've been on Fed Cup teams with her. I'm sure we'll get to know each other a lot more, especially next week.

Q. It's been such a tournament of so many highs for you. How will you cope with the possibility of an emotional letdown going into other tournaments where you won't have your home-crowd behind you?

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said, there is a possibility of that happening. It's been really great to play in front of crowds here. Even if I lose a few tournaments and I don't do as well, I don't think it's a big deal.
����������� I think I've shown that I can play with some of the best girls in the world: top 20 and top 10. You cannot play every tournament well. There's some tournaments also that sometimes you don't like playing, and some surfaces don't suit you.
����������� Like I made it clear earlier in the week already, it was the consistency of the year. I wouldn't like to win a tournament and then lose three or four first rounds. I'd rather play semi-finals every week. So just try to not have too many ups and downs, and just be as consistent as possible.

Safina's quarter-final press-conference

Source: www.australianopen.com

Q. You said you weren't happy with your match against Cornet. Mentally, you weren't quite with it. How was tonight's game?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, I don't know. It's tough to say. It was not easy to play, you know, having the whole crowd against. Because when you have the whole crowd on your own behind your back, 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, this was, I think, a little bit tough conditions compared to Cornet. Against her, I had also some support from the crowd.

Q. Did you go in today with a game-plan?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, a game-plan. Of course you always have a game-plan. Basically, I was trying to just find my game, and going for my shots and just be aggressive - not let her dictate.
����������� Sometimes I was doing this, and sometimes not. If I let her play, she's a great player. She makes me move around. She was going for her shots.

Q. What do you think about Dokic's future in the game? Do you think she can get up to the top of the women's game again?

DINARA SAFINA: She was number four in the world, or even higher [no]. 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.

Q. You played once six years ago. Can you make comparisons to her game then and now?

DINARA SAFINA: That time, I wouldn't say it was a great match. Jelena was missing a lot, and I think today was [a] completely different match. I would say this time she played much better than last time in China that we played against each other.

Q. Can you compare her game now to other players you're playing on circuit - other top players?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, she hits the ball great. She moves good. She serves good. She's a very solid player. She reads the game. She knows what's the game, you know.
����������� I mean, she beat Wozniacki: the girl is eleven in the world. So she belongs to be there.

Q. That experience - you being out there with the crowd - does that help you?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, no. Already I been through this in China. I knew that I had not - I didn't have to react. She's playing, she's coming back. Of course the whole crowd gonna support her.
����������� As I said on court, for sure after this match, you going to support me, and this I hope will help me.

Q. Is that a match you would have won a year or two years ago?

DINARA SAFINA: I think so: I would not win, because now I hang in there. I push myself and I try as best as I can this day, you know. Before, I would just not be able to, let's say maybe to even handle [that] the whole crowd is against me.
����������� Then I would go against them, and then, because once you go against the crowd, they kill you. Not in a bad way. Then you just start - you will feel smaller and smaller, because every time, they start to cheer more and more for her.
����������� I was just trying to stay mentally tough, and doing the things that I can do this day.

Q. Are you happy with your level of aggressivity today, or do you need to get more aggressive to win this tournament?

DINARA SAFINA: Definitely much more aggressive. Next round I play Vera, and she plays very good. I have to take the time off her, and take the balls much earlier. Definitely I will have to be much more aggressive than today.

Q. Do you let yourself dream about finally winning one?

DINARA SAFINA: Dream is always there. But, you know, now that it's semi-final, whatever happens, happens. I want to go out there and play my game, and let's see who is gonna be stronger that day.
����������� Then I will think about - if I go through, I will think about the final. Now it's semi-final, and I don't want to think about further than this.

Q. What about number one? You smell that a little bit yet?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, smell, of course I smell. But as I said, you know, now it's semi-final. I'm trying - you know, if I play my game and I win - keep winning matches, the ranking will come.
����������� Basically, what I'm trying to focus is just play my game and keep winning the matches - that's all.

Q. Do you feel like your own worst enemy out there sometimes? Is it sort of you against yourself sometimes?

DINARA SAFINA: Most of the time it's me against myself playing. You know, I play against me, my shadow, myself, everything against me. If one day I will play only against opponent, this will be the perfect day.
����������� Then it's the crowd and the Open and me. I hope the next match is going to be ball and the Open, and nothing else.

Q. Have you been in contact with your brother over the last few days, and has he given you any advice as you get towards the business-end?

DINARA SAFINA: As I said already before, actually we been today in contact, because today is his birthday. Second, nobody is allowed to give me advice except my tennis-coach. I don't want that somebody mess up these things.
����������� It's my coach: he's the only one person allowed to tell me something, and nobody else.

Q. Tell me again: where did you spend the off-season? You lost seven kilos or something like that.

DINARA SAFINA: Not enough. It's been already since Wimbledon that I lost seven kilos.

Q. Where were you training in the off-season?

DINARA SAFINA: This time I been in Valencia. It's the only place you can hit outdoors. It was cold, but still you can hit outside.

Q. What do you think is the difference in your condition. I know you lost seven kilos. Do you physically feel anything different?

DINARA SAFINA: I try to put seven kilos on yourself and run.

Q. It's not easy.

DINARA SAFINA: You know, I just cannot imagine, because sometimes you take five kilos: oh, it's heavy. Then you start to think, "I been carrying this the whole time." You don't feel it. But definitely I would not want to go back to that shape. I prefer to go now the way I am now.

Q. Your next opponent has been in great form. She hasn't dropped a set all tournament. How do you see that match-up?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's another match. You know, how do you say? Two great players there. Just we will go out there and play our game, and who is going to be stronger on the day gonna be win. Not much, you know.

Articles

Safina beats Dokic to reach semis [CEEFAX 490->494]
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Third seed Dinara Safina overcame home-favourite and wild card Jelena Dokic in three sets to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in Melbourne.

"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.
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Dokic fairytale-run ended by Safina [Teletext 495->497]
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Safina ends Dokic-run [Teletext 497]

Safina said: "It was not easy to play having the whole crowd against you. When you make a great shot and basically only my own box was clapping for me, that was tough."
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Safina, Zvonar�va advance to semis at Australian Open (PA SportsTicker)
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Jelena Dokic's dream-run at the Australian Open ended on Tuesday.

"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."
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Dokic-dream ends (Reuters)
By Ossian Shine (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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"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.

Safina next meets fellow Russian and seventh seed Vera Zvonar�va after she eased into the women's semi-finals with victory over Marion Bartoli.
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Exhausted �okovic out as Safina ends Dokic dream-run (AFP)
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An exhausted Novak �okovic 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.

"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."
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Zvonar�va cruises into tennis-semis as Safina toughs it out (AFP)
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Russian Vera Zvonar�va 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.

"She's playing very good. I'll have to take the time off her and take the balls much earlier," Safina said. "I'll definitely have to be much more aggressive than today."
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Safina beats Dokic to reach semis (BBC Sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7852624.stm
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Third seed Dinara Safina overcame home-favourite and wildcard Jelena Dokic in three sets to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in Melbourne.

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.
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Jelena Dokic bows out of Australian Open as Dinara Safina reaches semi-finals (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
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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.

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

Dokic became the first woman in Aussie Open history to play in five straight three-set matches.
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Safina ends Dokic-dream
By Vanessa Skendaris (www.australianopen.com)
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Jelena Dokic's amazing run at Australian Open 2009 has ended, bowing out in the quarter-finals to world No.3 Dinara Safina in three thrilling close sets, 6-4 4-6 6-4, in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena crowd on Tuesday night.

The beginning of the rest of her life
By Alix Ramsay (www.australianopen.com)
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What a difference a handful of matches make. When Jelena Dokic came to Melbourne Park a matter of days ago, she was a wild-card entry, a bit of a talking-point, and a nice little story.

It sounded like a plan, and it has been a while since Dokic has had one of them. What started as a great adventure and a chance to test herself against the best at Melbourne Park has turned into a launching-pad for her assault on the world's top 50. All it took was five matches, 15 sets - and a lifetime of experience.
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Safina Downs Dokic to Reach Australian Open Semis
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2931
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No.3 seed Dinara Safina is through to her first Australian Open semi-final, having ended the Cinderella run of Jelena Dokic in three sets: 6-4 4-6 6-4. The result means that for the third year running, at least one Russian woman will be in the final at Melbourne Park, for the 22-year-old next faces Vera Zvonar�va, who overcame a slow start to crush Marion Bartoli earlier in the day.

"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."
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The Evans Report (Richard Evans, Tennis Week)
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The Federer Masterclass partially made up for the disappointment of Australia's Jelena Dokic just failing to beat Dinara Safina in their quarter-final.

But Safina - the new, slimmed-down Safina - has had much more match-play in the last few months, and that counts when it comes to the crunch. The Russian won 6-4 4-6 6-4, and now plays her compatriot Vera Zvonar�va, who demolished Marion Bartoli of France 6-3 6-0.
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Dokic warns she's only going to get better (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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Australia's Jelena Dokic sent out a warning to her rivals after she took world number-three Dinara Safina to three sets in the Australian Open quarter-final on Tuesday: she was only going to get better.

"So [I just want to] try to not have too many ups and downs, and just be as consistent as possible."
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Safina ends Dokic's brave run at Australian Open (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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Dinara Safina charged into the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over a brave Jelena Dokic.

"The dream is always there... but I have a semi-final first. I will think about it if I go through to the final."
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Dokic's Australian Open run ends in quarters (AP)
By Dennis Passa: AP Sports Writer
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Dinara Safina had just advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals, staying on track for her first Major title and a chance to become No.1.

"It's been a great start to 2009. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
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Dokic mum's pride at 'sad' Jelena's tennis-comeback (AFP)
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The mother of Australia's Jelena Dokic spoke on Tuesday of her pride at her daughter's return to big-time tennis, but revealed that the troubled player is still sometimes "sad" when they speak.

He was also ejected from the US Open 2000 for abusing staff about the price of a salmon-lunch, and made headlines for smashing a journalist's phone at Wimbledon the same year.
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Safina downs Dokic to reach tennis Open semis (AFP)
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Russian third seed Dinara Safina said she needed all her new-found mental toughness to shut down tenacious Australian wild card Jelena Dokic and reach the final four at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

"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."
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Me, Myself, and I (Tom Perrotta, TENNIS.com)
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Dinara Safina did it again: She beat her opponent - the remarkable Jelena Dokic - and narrowly escaped defeating herself.

"Most of the time, it's me against myself playing," she said, smiling. "You know: I play against me, my shadow, myself, everything against me. If one day I will play only against [my] opponent, this will be the perfect day."
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Dokic and Doppelg�ngers (Abigail Lorge, TENNIS.com)
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I was wrong about the Jelena Dokic v Dinara Safina quarter-final, and I'm glad of it. Dokic made the match much more competitive than I expected, and she was helped by some characteristic Safina-meltdowns (including a four-double-fault game at 4-5 to give Dokic the second set). Tom Perrotta has more on the endearingly volatile Safina in his insightful Day 9 wrap-up [above].

The return of Dokic is the happiest women's story of the tournament so far. I'm glad for her, and it should be fun to follow her comeback � and her climb up the rankings � as the year progresses.
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Dinara Safina ends Jelena Dokic's Australian Open fairytale
By Mark Hodgkinson (The Daily Telegraph - UK)
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Such has been the modern tennis 'fairytale' of Jelena Dokic during this year's run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open that a "lads' magazine" contacted her manager offering her around �20,000 to pose in a photo-shoot.

Safina's victory took her through to Wednesday's all-Russian semi-final against Vera Zvonar�va, who reached the last four of a Major for the first time by beating France's Marion Bartoli.
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Laver impressed by Dokic-comeback, marvels at Federer (Reuters)
By Julian Linden (editing by N.Ananthanarayanan)
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Jelena Dokic's fairytale-comeback at the Australian Open has received the royal stamp of approval from Australia's greatest player: Rod Laver.

Dokic's emotionally-charged run was ended by the in-form Russian Dinara Safina on Tuesday.
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Dokic hails 'life-changing' Open comeback (AFP, Wednesday 28th January 2009)
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Australia's Jelena Dokic said her amazing Major comeback at Melbourne Park had changed her life as the nation's media hailed a prodigal daughter's return to the big time.

"To come back from the depression - or just not being able to compete - was quite uncanny," he added. She just plays well under pressure. That's the one thing that not many players have. Being able to play when the chips are down."
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Dokic and her mother are mending fences, slowly
Linda Pearce and Selma Milovanovic (The Age, Wednesday 28th January)
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Jelena Dokic is back in regular contact with one of her parents, and this is a reconciliation she welcomes. Dokic is having a daily communication with her mother Liliana Podnar, who is divorced from Belgrade-based Damir and living in a small apartment in Sydney.

"I still have contact with her, and we are building up our relationship again, and I think that could still be something in a couple of years. Even now, it's a lot better than it was."
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Rod Laver a devoted Dokic-fan
Mike Hedge (The Age / AAP, Thursday 29th January 2009)
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The courage of Jelena Dokic will be one of the great memories that the average tennis-fan takes from this Australian Open.

"But what he and Jelena do is play better under pressure."
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Down Dokic had quit tennis
Linda Pearce (The Age, Thursday 29th January 2009)
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The comeback that delighted Melbourne Park almost never was. In mid-2007, when she spent between six and eight months unable even to practise, Jelena Dokic retired from tennis. Then one day, she watched a match on TV and decided she would make a final attempt to resurrect her fallen career.

She said her low point had come during mid-2007, when she was overweight and depressed, but while reluctant to put a figure on her revised ranking-ambitions, a return to the top ten for the former world No.4 is achievable.
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How doughty Dokic turned it around
Jessica Halloran (The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 29th January 2009)
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Jelena Dokic acknowledges that something extraordinary has happened. Eighteen months ago, she was overweight, depressed, and had decided she wouldn't touch a racquet professionally again. Four weeks into retirement, a tennis-match on the television in her lounge reignited her passion for the game.

"It's very tough to forget what happened seven years ago," Dokic said. "But look, I tried my best. Some decisions - actually, all of the decisions - I regret that I made. And I just tried to do my best with the public, and it's really worked in my favour... I really fought well, and they really admired that, and it's been positive how everything has turned around."
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Dokic - worth shouting about
Linda Pearce (The Age, Thursday 29th January)
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Jelena Dokic believes she is back playing like a member of the top 20 and is capable of a return to the top 10, but for about four weeks in the middle of 2007, she decided she would not, could not, play again at all. Of all the low points in her well-documented battle with depression, Damir and assorted demons, Dokic had reached her nadir.

"Watching her play was like watching her play seven years ago. Exactly the same person, exactly the same player. Once you've got it, you've got it. If you are fit enough and you put in the work, once you know that you can do it, once you know you have that ability, you always have that ability. Once a champion, always a champion."
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Dokic's Deal (Tennis Week, Thursday 29th January 2009)
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Jelena Dokic's inspired run to the Australian Open quarter-finals came to a close at the hands of Dinara Safina, but the resurgent Dokic continues to soar in successful skies.

The 25-year-old Dokic, who will represent Australia in Fed Cup competition next week, is considering other endorsement-offers, her IMG agent David Malina said.
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Safina v Dokic Most-Watched Women's Match Ever (Friday 30th January 2009)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2943
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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.

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."
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Safina, Dokic enjoy breakthrough-fortnights (Saturday 31st January 2009)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2945
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Despite the loss, Dinara 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 Aliz� 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 Zvonar�va.

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.
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Dokic's Australian Open Comeback: A Look Back (Thursday 5th February 2009)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2952
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Serena Williams' 10th Major title and the classic Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal final were the last words, but during the Australian Open, nobody captivated the crowds like Jelena Dokic: a fallen star that shot back up brilliantly with an unlikely run to the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams: "I've been so happy for her. I've been rooting for her to do well. Her attitude is great, and her game is amazing. She's playing the way she played when she was able to reach number four in the world. I know what it's like to be down and to come back. I'm proud and happy for her. It's really good to see that she didn't lose any of her game or fighting spirit. It's awesome."
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Your Call (Asad Raza, TENNIS.com, Wednesday 18th February 2009)
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For me, the most compelling spectacle of the Aussie Open was that of Jelena Dokic fighting her way through the draw.

There was true grit in her eyes. I found that much more emotionally compelling than the experience of wondering whether Ana Ivanovic will win a second Major. You started watching one of Dokic's matches and you just couldn't stop. Know what I mean? Or perhaps this is simply a function of my getting well into my thirties: I suppose can relate better now to second acts than to first ones.
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