Article written by J.M.

After a great performance last week in Miami where Jelena made the quarterfinals, where she won three consecutive matches for the first time in months, Dokic now moves on to Sarasota where she hopes to defend her title. Last year she won the clay court event in convincing fashion without dropping a set and absolutely destroyed Tatiana Panova in the final. In 2003, however, many higher-ranked players have entered the tournament in preparation for the beginning of the clay season so Jelena must be hitting her groundstrokes well in order to progress to the latter stages of the draw.

First up…. Paola Suarez:

Jelena has unfortunately been given a really tough opponent for her first round match: Argentine Paola Suarez, who is currently the world’s number 1 doubles player! Her best results on clay are as follows: champion of Bogota in 1998 and 2001, finalist at Acapulco 2002, finalist at Madrid 199, semi-finalist at Amelia Island 2000, and a quarterfinalist at the French Open last year, where she beat solid clay courters such as Sandrine Testud and Amelie Mauresmo in the progress. As is evident, Suarez loves the clay courts and will not be afraid of coming to the net and attacking. However, Dokic should be able to handle her opponent quite easily as she has already been practicing on clay courts to adjust to the transition from the hardcourt season to the clay court season. Expect Jelena to win in two comfortable sets for this match!

Hopkins or Matevzic?

If Dokic won her opening round match, she will either have to play one of the following people:

• Jennifer Hopkins: this American is currently ranked just outside the top 200 and was given a wild card for this event. She has not played any WTA events for a few months now and has had a poor run in challenger events and qualifying draws. However, she did make the semifinals of Warsaw in 2000 so she can work the clay quite well. Dokic should win in two easy sets though, despite their career meetings being leveled at 1-1.
• Maja Matevzic: this Slovakian player has had very unfortunate draws coming into 2003, having to face the likes of Daniela Hantuchova, Venus Williams and Anna Pistolesi in early round matches. Her best results of 2003 have been 2^nd round appearances at the Australian Open and at Antwerp. She has a win/loss record of 23/19 since 1996 and can play on clay, which can be seen in her semi-final appearance at Porto last year. Dokic should again be able to win easily in this match.

QF--- Come-back Anna time?

Anna Kournikova is still coming back from a back injury and has decided to play in Sarasota as well. Although she has to play former French Open champion, Iva Majoli, in the first round, the Russian should be able to handle her Croatian opponent with her heavy groundstrokes. Do not be surprised if she won the match and made the quarterfinals. If Jelena and Anna would meet in the QF, it would be a battle of the beauties and a press frenzy. Their last match was absolutely phenomenal in San Diego where Dokic saved two match points before prevailing 6-7 7-6 6-0. Expect ticket sales to go up for this matchup!

The only other likely opponent Jelena could play would be Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan. Iroda has a 3-0 head-to-head record over 2002 finalist Tatiana Panova and she should really win the match comfortably with her big serve. However, she would have to get past Kournikova or Majoli in the second round. Nonetheless, Dokic has shown in the past that she can beat the big hitters on clay, such as demolishing Venus Williams a few years back 6-2 6-0, so Iroda should not be a problem at all.

Six times in a row?

Jelena could play a very tough opponent in the semi-finals in Spain’s, Conchita Martinez. Conchita has had an amazing run over the past six months, having made the final at Bali, the semi-finals of the prestigious Switzerland event and the semi-finals at Indian Wells just two weeks ago. She is surely regaining her momentum that led her to a career high ranking of number 2 in the world a few years ago and as a Spanish player, she sure does love the clay. This was apparent in her French Open record where she came so close to winning the title in 1998 before falling to Mary Pierce 2-6 5-7. She has 32 career titles to her name and an amazing 104/40 record on clay since 1996. The question is, however, will Dokic be able to make it six wins in a row??? Their career meetings are as follows: 

As you can see, Dokic won a hard fought three set match at the French Open and a bizarre three set encounter in their last meeting at Stanford. Prediction: Jelena d. Conchita in 3 lopsided sets.

The only other two likely opponents are red-hot Ai Sugiyama or former top 10 player, Barbara Schett. Sugiyama could beat Martinez if those blisters are still troubling her youthful Spanish opponent and could progress to the semis if she is playing well. Sugiyama beat Jelena this year and this can mainly be attributed to a lapse in mental concentration on Jelena’s behalf in the 3^rd set. Either players, Dokic should win in two sets.

New Rival: Myskina

Anastasia Myskina has become Jelena’s latest rival in tennis. However, Dokic won their last meeting in the 1^st round of the Sanex Championships 2003. Myskina has had a great year, making the QF at the Australian Open and winning Doha, though she had some disappointing results over the past month at Indian Wells and Miami. Myskina has also beaten Jelena on clay before so if this final were to take place, expect a three setter, filled with long rallies and countless winners from both sides.

Other possible opponents that Jelena could play and/or beat in the final include Patty Schnyder and Nathalie Dechy.

Predictions:

1^st round: Dokic d. Suarez in 2 sets.

2^nd round: Dokic d. Matevzic in 2 sets.

QF: Dokic d. Kournikova in 2 tight sets.

SF: Dokic d. Martinez in 3 sets/