Article by Christian Gmur

Match report

Jelena Dokic vs. Alexandra Stevenson 6-7 (6), 6-4 and 5-7

It was the first time I saw Jelena playing and I was absolutely impressed of her power-tennis. But the opponent of Jelena was also a ³power-woman² and for that reason I had counted the aces and double faults. You know, Alexandra Stevenson is a much taking risk player, like the motto: No risk, no fun!

Jela started very well, just with a break at the beginning. Stevenson made a lot of mistakes and had 3 double faults on her first serve-game. But things should change a little bit later. When Stevenson lead the set 4:2 she seemed to be more concentrated and her serves were also better than before. No doubt, the fastest serves today came from Stevenson: About 160-170km/h at her first serve and even 150km/h at the second serve showed,  that she was just taking a high risk during the whole match. After 39 minutes Jelena had two set points which she couldn¹t defend. Stevenson had even made an ace at the second serve when Jelena had still a set point. So the decision should come in the tie-break where Jelena made a mini-break (3:1) but after that she had lost 5 points in series which was decisive for the first set.

At set 2, Jelena seemed still bothering about loosing the first one, but had chances for a break at 3all, which she took very clever, by playing a very risky shot, which turned up to be one of her best winners of the complete match. After that both players hold their service games, until the end of set 2, but Jelena was still to much rushing for points.

Stevenson showed again at the decisive set how close she is to both genious and pure stupidness. She just served aces and double faults like mad. It was a hard fight for the final set, between the power hitter from the states and a completely exhausted Jelena who was fighting for her life though she looked like she had a cold! Most spectators were waiting for the fourth tie-break of today (second in this match) as Jelena got in trouble at her very last possible service game of the match at 5-6. Down 15-40, she could save two matchpoints of Stevenson by hitting two incredible winners, but Stevenson managed to get a third chance and Jelena lost the match, by hitting her 9th double fault of today.

The complete match was very close. I guess, if Jelena would have won the first set, as she had two set-points there, she would have probably won the match. But Stevenson had an excellent day, served 15 aces, and it was nearly impossible to beat her today.
We can be proud about Jelena, because though she looked not healthy all, she was fighting for every point for more than two hours.