Tennis: Jelena Dokic Wins Third Round
January 23rd 2009 09:30
Jelena Dokic's Australian Open triumph continued, with a sparkling third-round win over Danish dynamo Caroline Wozniacki. Dokic, once again the darling of Australian tennis, lit up Rod Laver Arena with a spirited 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over the tournament's No 11 seed.
The most improved player on the women's tour, Wozniacki rose from outside the top 50 to finish the 2008 season as the world No 12, with a bullet.
But the highly-rated teen was unable to match the firepower and sheer will of Dokic, who rebounded from a set down to storm into the last 16 for the first time at Melbourne Park.
And as on Wednesday night when she ousted 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze, Dokic displayed nerves of steel despite having played just one grand slam match in the past five years prior to this week.
Wozniacki took the first set with the only service break in the third game after Dokic wasted a total of six break-back chances in the fifth, seventh and ninth games - including having the Dane down love-40 at 5-4 and serving for the set.
Undeterred, Dokic powered through the second set, reeling off winners from both wings to break Wozniacki to love in the fourth game and again two games before serving it out to put the match back on level terms.
The comeback queen nabbed another early break in the deciding set, only to drop serve the very next game as the tension rose.
But it was Dokic who raised her game when it mattered most, the former world No.4 and Wimbledon semi-finalist staying cool to win the last four games and seal victory on her second match point after one hour and 43 minutes.
"Losing the first set today went in my favour,'' Dokic said.
"We had a couple big games and from thereon after I lost the first set.
"I was happy with the way I hung in there - she's nearly on the verge of the top 10.
"From there, I got the first break and things went my way. I felt comfortable rallying with her.''
Dokic, who infamously walked out on Australia after claiming the 2001 Open draw had been rigged to pit her against then defending champion Lindsay Davenport, thanked Tennis Australia and tournament director Craig Tiley for having her back.
"Since 2001, things really went downhill and we had a tough couple of years,'' she said.
"Sorry for being a pain. I really made things difficult at times and I apologise for that, but Craig has been so great for giving me opportunities and helping me along.
"I'd like to say this win is for me and for my team and it is. But I have to thank Craig and Tennis Australia and the whole Australian nation. Really, this is for them.''
Agence France-Presse
The most improved player on the women's tour, Wozniacki rose from outside the top 50 to finish the 2008 season as the world No 12, with a bullet.
But the highly-rated teen was unable to match the firepower and sheer will of Dokic, who rebounded from a set down to storm into the last 16 for the first time at Melbourne Park.
And as on Wednesday night when she ousted 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze, Dokic displayed nerves of steel despite having played just one grand slam match in the past five years prior to this week.
Wozniacki took the first set with the only service break in the third game after Dokic wasted a total of six break-back chances in the fifth, seventh and ninth games - including having the Dane down love-40 at 5-4 and serving for the set.
Undeterred, Dokic powered through the second set, reeling off winners from both wings to break Wozniacki to love in the fourth game and again two games before serving it out to put the match back on level terms.
The comeback queen nabbed another early break in the deciding set, only to drop serve the very next game as the tension rose.
But it was Dokic who raised her game when it mattered most, the former world No.4 and Wimbledon semi-finalist staying cool to win the last four games and seal victory on her second match point after one hour and 43 minutes.
"Losing the first set today went in my favour,'' Dokic said.
"We had a couple big games and from thereon after I lost the first set.
"I was happy with the way I hung in there - she's nearly on the verge of the top 10.
"From there, I got the first break and things went my way. I felt comfortable rallying with her.''
Dokic, who infamously walked out on Australia after claiming the 2001 Open draw had been rigged to pit her against then defending champion Lindsay Davenport, thanked Tennis Australia and tournament director Craig Tiley for having her back.
"Since 2001, things really went downhill and we had a tough couple of years,'' she said.
"Sorry for being a pain. I really made things difficult at times and I apologise for that, but Craig has been so great for giving me opportunities and helping me along.
"I'd like to say this win is for me and for my team and it is. But I have to thank Craig and Tennis Australia and the whole Australian nation. Really, this is for them.''
Agence France-Presse
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