Article by Todd Spiker

ONE FINAL STAND IN L.A.
by Todd Spiker

   It's almost over.  Just a little while longer.  Then, it'll be time to begin anew.  In fact, it's already started to happen.
   Could 2003 be upon us... in November?  In a way, yes.  But don't expect too much too soon.  These are just the planning stages, don't you know.  We could see an entirely different Jelena on and off the court next season, but there may be precious little evidence of that this week in Los Angeles.
   It appears that 2003 will the first year in which Jelena will be truly on her own... without various members of the Dokic clan following along, sometimes stealing the spotlight and always forcing her to face uncomfortable questions to which there were no right answers.  After years of on-court fire soothing the burning embers off it, the two refused to coexist in 2002.
   So Jelena extinguished the flame.  Or at least she made steps that have already begun to alter her life, hopefully for the better.  One hopes, like the Pierces before them, that the Dokices can mend fences down the line.  But, for now, a break would seem to be able to do everyone involved a world of good.  Most of all Jelena.
   Hence, the celebration of Jelena's Independence Day.


 

*POINTS BREAKDOWN*
*LINZ*
2599...opening total
49.....Quarterfinals
8......2r: Craybas (#59) - 6-2,6-2
0......QF: Rubin (#14) - 5-7,2-6
+57....TOTAL (qualifying Top 17)
-174...Linz 2001
-117...TOTAL +/- FOR WEEK
2482...closing total
*LOS ANGELES*
-132...2001 Chsp.points losing
+67....2002 1r points gaining
2417...FINAL 2002 pts. if 1r loss
2506...Points with 1r win over Myskina


   Jelena's independence may have begun in Linz, but her slump didn't end there.
   After an easy win over Jill Craybas, Jelena faced the same woman (Chanda Rubin) she lost to in L.A. after that well-reported crying fit.  Rather than turn back the clock and right history, she lost again.  She played better, but her inability to defeat a top opponent down this season's long stretch run remained.
   With the strong field at the WTA Championships, Jelena's season could end very quickly this week.  It's difficult to be optimistic that a player who's beaten one Top 20 player in the last three months can rattle off a string of them at the end of a long season.
   But, no matter, as 2002 winds down it's better to think of what a smarter, better prepared, more emotionally centered 19-year old coming into her own might be able to accomplish around the corner rather than harp on what the tired one won't be able to do in California.
   As her season's ending, her journey's just beginning.  Wish her well.


 

*JELENA HARDCOURT EVENTS IN 2002*
Indian Wells.........3r to Kremer
Miami................3r to Kremer
Stanford..........QF to Davenport
San Diego........RU to V.Williams
Los Angeles...........SF to Rubin
Montreal.....SF to Capriati (ret)
US Open..............2r to Bovina
Bahia...............SF to Myskina
Tokyo PC..........SF to Clijsters
Filderstadt.........2r to Petrova
Zurich............2r to Stevenson
Linz..................QF to Rubin
WTA Championship...............??
TOTAL.......................21-12


*JELENA - 2001 WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS*
1r...def. Shaughnessy.....7-6,6-2
QF...lost to Davenport....4-6,2-6


======================================


 

WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS
November 6-11, 2002
Staples Center; Los Angeles, Cal.
Indoor Hardcourt; #8 Seed
1r: vs #9 Anastasia Myskina
2001: lost QF to Davenport

ROUND POINTS:
W=485, RU-340, SF-218, QF-121, 1r-67
QUALITY POINTS:
#1 Serena Williams.....100
#2 Venus Willaims.......75
#3 Jennifer Capriati....66
#4 Justine Henin........55
#5 Kim Clijsters........43
#6 Monica Seles.........43
#7 Daniela Hantuchova...43
#9 Anastasia Myskina....35
#10 Lindsay Davenport...35
#11 Silvia Farina Elia..35
#12 Chanda Rubin........35
#13 Patty Schnyder......35
#14 Anna Smashnova......23
#15 Maggie Maleeva......35
#16 Elena Dementieva....23
ALT: A.Stevenson........23


 

   Well, at least Jelena didn't draw Davenport, huh?  That's about the only consolation that might come out of L.A. for her when things are all said and done.
   Sure, Anastasia Myskina hasn't exactly been lighting things up as of late.  But she has two wins over Jelena in 2002, and everyone's favorite Yugoslav has defeated just one Top 20 player (Hingis) since the closing weeks of the summer.
   I sense Jelena is ready to leave 2002 behind her, and she might just quicky (and quietly) make it official by bowing out against the Russian against which she's had the most trouble.  If she somehow survives, Serena will make quick work of our worn-out favorite in the QF.  Maybe it would be best for this lesser version of Jelena to avoid such a ignominious end, anyway.
   Remember, 2003 is but a few months away.

=====================================

**WTA SINGLES TOP 10**
(as of October 28, without 2001 WTA Championship points subtracted)
1.Serena Williams..........6099
2.Venus Williams...........4844
3.Jennifer Capriati........3640
4.Justine Henin............3194
5.Amelie Mauresmo..........3121
6.Kim Clijsters............3040
7.Monica Seles.............2796
8.Daniela Hantuchova....2640.75
9.JELENA DOKIC.............2482
10.Martina Hingis..........2348