Article by Gerhard Grundhammer

Jill Craybas from Rhode Island in the USA is Jelenas second round opponent at the tournament in Linz, tomorrow. After she beat austrains teen-star Jenny Zika, and french girl Fortez at the qualifyings she lost to D. Chladkova but reached the main draw as lucky looser, because of Davenports injury. And she has been lucky again, as she played against a sick Daniela Kix (austrians second teen-star) in the first round and won 6-2 and 2-0 ret.

Jill reached WTA-rank no 59 this year, which is by far the career high for the 28 year old amerikan, who became professional in 1996 and entered the top100 for the first time in 2001. This year she also won her first wta-title at the Japan Open just a few weeks ago, and she upset there Gagliardi, Kostanic and Tanasugarn to become the oldest player to win her first wta-title of all times.

Actually I have been surprised once more what kind of results a player needs to enter the top60. Beside her win at Japan, the amerikan no12 reached the second round of the Australian Open (beating Pierce in round one) and Wimbledon (beating 28th seed Suarez). Further she upset Dementieva at Charleston to reach round three there and had the same result at Amelia Island and Birmingham. And thats it!!!!!! Thats all!!!!!

The righthanded player lost all other tournaments either at the qualifications or had first round losses, even at tournaments which are no wta-events and i have never heared of, as Waikoloa.

Jill Craybas is a steady player, with no proper weaknesses like other players at her level. She has got an alright first and even second serve, likes to attack her opponents at the net and is actually not bad in doing
that. (She scored 75% of the points as she attacked Paola Suarez at Wimbledon from the net). She is not producing to many unforced errors and got the ability to serve one or two aces during a match. Her main probelm is that she is unable to produce some power, unable to create dangerous situations for her opponent, and unable to put pressure on her opponent.

And as she has not really an own game, what she can force her opponents to deal with, she usually has to deal with the favourite game of her opponents, which will tomorrow be: power power power.........! A slight advantage, beside that Jill is used to the courts of Linz already could be that she know what to expect, though Jelena and Jill never played before. But will Jelena care about that?

I guess she has got different things to care about, and the only person who can beat Jelena these days anyway, is Jelena herself.