Article written by Gerhard Grundhammer

24 year old Natalie Dechy is Jelenas second opponent at the Nasdaq Open 2003.

 The right-handed player was born at the french island Guadeloupe in the Caribian Sea, but lives now at Villeneuv d Ascq near Roland Garros. Her mother Francoise and her father Michel were her first teachers at the tennis-court as she started to play the game at the age of six.

 The no23 of the world claims hard-court as her favourite surface, and over-head-volleys, as her favourite shots. Hearing that, its no surprise that the 1.75 meters tall player (5`9``) is none of the baseline-fraction at the womens-tennis-circuit. Its rather a surprise that she still plays her backhand double-handed.

 Though the no2 of france is one of the most consistant players outside the top ten, she never managed to settle down in the top 20, and only won her first WTA-tournament earlier this year (Gold Coast). Thats mainly because she shows the same consistance at loosing to top players as she shows by beating unseeded ones. At her pre-match interviews she often claims that she has got big problems if her opponent changes the speed or the taktic of the game, which of course is more likely to happen to a top player as to the no235 of the world. Unfortunaltely its absulutely impossible to happen vs. the no9.......

 Natalie tried her luck at 19 consecutive Grand Slam Tournies now, but never got past the 4th round. Last year at the Nasdaq 100 she lost her opening match to T. Poutchek 3-6, 6-0 and 0-6, and last week at Indian Wells she fought herself to the 4th round, beating Farina Elia on her way, and only lost to Kim Clijsters in three sets.

 Jelena played Natalie twice before. At Rome 2000 the score was 6-1, 4-6 and 6-3 to the favour of Jelena and she also beat her at the third round of Wimbledon 2002 7-5 and 6-2.

 To reach the third round Natalie beat belgian veteran Els Callens without to much trouble 6-4 and 6-3 after a first round bye.

 Last i want to post a sentence i found at Natalie Dechy`s official homepage: "Nathalie's position in the draw was greatly enhanced when Molik upset Hantuchova, which opens the way for Nathalie to get to the quarters if she can just find a way to beat Dokic." Well, may i include that IF one of the two girls is finding a way to beat Dokic, its more likely that its Jelena, who beats Dokic again........