After wonderful season in 2001 and a runner-up spot, and then not playing last year in doubles on Roland Garros courts, Jelena Dokic decided that it would be a very good decision for her tennis game to play this year's Roland Garros Grand Slam, where she is teamed up with her great doubles partner and friend Nadia Petrova of Russia.

It seams that Jelena is not performing that good in singles lately, to tell the truth she is playing way under her possibilities, but somehow she and her fans could always rely on her doubles performances. Something where she is always supposed to win titles, play in finals, semi finals etc.

The draw is out, and Jelena and Nadia already know their first round opponent. It's a Spanish combination of a 27 years old Conchita Martinez Granados and 6 years younger Maria Jose Martinez. A Spanish combination on clay, in Paris, a very interesting first round match.

Conchita didn't have some great moments in her doubles career. With career-high doubles (as of May 11, 2003): No. 83 (Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2000) and with no titles to her name, but with one final this year in Budapest where she was teamed up with Perebiynis, and another one last year in Casablanca where she was teamed up with Dulko, and few semi finals, this lady definitely can tell what is the filing to play important matches, yet not that good history at slams, nor with titles.
On the other hand, Maria already has 4 titles to her name: Winner (4): 2001 - Acapulco (w/Medina Garrigues), Porto (w/Medina Garrigues), Bol (w/Medina Garrigues), Basel (w/Medina Garrigues) and finalist of 3 : 2002 - Helsinki (w/Bes); 2001 - Palermo (w/Medina Garrigues), Casablanca (w/Salerni), which gave her career-high doubles (as of Dec. 29, 2002): No. 26 (Aug. 27-Sept. 9, 2001).

Now, what to expect from this match? Will it be an easy one? And for who?

Definitely the weather conditions are not that great. Still no rain, but a bit windy and it's something tennis players don't like to see while playing, because it can always make it tough to play some shots, and also can affect your mental power, it can test you, but then it should affect all of them in the same way.

It is well known that Conchita prefers clay courts, and that her best shot is forehand, while Maria is left- handed player with nice two- handed backhand. As all Spanish players, they are very good on clay, actually no matter how good or bad players they can be, they will for sure perform their best tennis on clay courts, and on Grand Slams they will try even better if possible. They are good fighters but they don't appear to have the weapons to make a major impact on tour.

Conchita and Maria cannot match Jelena and Nadia's power, so they'll have to go all out when they can with their nice shots and also change the pace of the rallies as much as possible. If Nadia gets her big serve working and isn't wild from the baseline, she could well destroy plans of the Spanish duo, who has trouble overpowering most players.

My Pick : Jelena and Nadia will go through every part of Conchita and Maria's game, and will not be impressed by their discipline. I say Jelena Dokic and Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-3.

Please, feel free to enter our chat room during the match.