JELENA-DOKIC.com - June 8,
2003
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JELENA
CORNER
by Todd Spiker
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A FURTHER ROLAND GARROS POSTSCRIPT
Two weeks ago, if someone (Gerhard, maybe?) had been
able to heist a fortune teller's crystal ball, look into
the future and divine that a member of the Dokic/Petrova
team was going to advance all the way to the Roland Garros
semifinals then everyone around here would have been
insanely jumping for joy. The slump would have been over!
Who knew it was going to be Nadia, not Jelena? Or that
she'd do it with such ease? Let's be honest, Petrova
showed the type of poise and all-court game that Jelena
dreams about being able to showcase on such a stage.
Nadia had more than just a sweet serve, she was also armed
with technically perfect groundstrokes, pinpoint
volleys... and, more impressively, an unearthly presence
and steely steadiness that flashed brilliantly in her
throttling of the likes of Monica Seles and successful
tooth-and-nail battles with Vera Zvonareva and Jennifer
Capriati. In fact, up until that blasted net cord on set
point against Kim Clijsters (Nadia was a half-step from
putting the point away!), Petrova looked ready, willing
and able to break up that all-Waffle final that occurred
in place of the all-Williams one we've become accustomed
to on grand slam final Saturdays.
At first glance, Jelena didn't gain a whole lot of
knowledge in Paris that could help her turn the corner and
return to her past success. But maybe that's a hasty
judgment. Maybe she CAN still learn a great deal from
what happened over the past two weeks... by realizing what
her doubles partner was able to do. Nadia was everything
in Paris that Jelena wasn't: precise, aggressive,
fearless and, most of all, confident. To figure out how
to straighten out her own game, Jelena first needs to look
in the mirror, for sure. But she should take a few
moments to glance Petrova's way, too. It could help this
transition move along at least a little more quickly.
Jelena only needs to be willing to study and learn from
her friend's success.
After being the top name in their doubles partnership
for so long, Jelena suddenly has some competition from
within the ranks. It could change the dynamic of their
relationship, for good or bad. It all depends on Jelena's
delight for Nadia's accomplishment, or jealousy over it if
she continues to outshine her. Hopefully, Jelena's secure
enough in her own skin to give the good that could come
from Petrova's SF run a shot to win out.
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PETROVA IN
SINGLES, WHEN SHE PLAYS DOUBLES WITH JELENA
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Tokyo TPP........1r
(Krasnoroutskaya)
Indian Wells.....q2 (Koulikovskaya)
Miami............q2 (Marrero)
Sarasota.........2r (Myskina-ret.)
Berlin...........2r (Daniilidou)
Rome.............3r (Capriati)
Roland Garros....SF (Clijsters)
I said here at the end of last season that Jelena's
relationship with Petrova seemed to help her, and maybe
now that sentiment is proving to be more true than anyone
could have ever imagined. If Nadia can do it, so can
Jelena. She has to know that's the case. If being around
Heinz Gunthardt, the coach of The Great Graf, can
hopefully rub off a little on Jelena, then maybe being
around this New Nadia can, as well. With a combination of
influences and a willingness to realize their importance,
maybe Jelena can find her way through this morass yet.
Of course, if Nadia were to suddenly become an
"opponent" on the singles court and BEAT Jelena, things
could change. But she'll have to cross that bridge when
and if she comes to it. Such is the dilemma when you're
reduced to "success by association" as you continue to
search for a little of your own six months into a season
that last just slightly over ten.
*VIENNA, AUSTRIA*
Wien Energie Grand Prix
WEEK OF June 9
Red Clay; Tier III
#1 seed; 2r: vs. Grande/Benesova
2002 Points Defense: 186 (Birmingham W)
POINTS TABLE
W=120; RU=85; SF=55; QF=30; 2r=16; 1r=1
The first question, of course, is why is Jelena toiling
on red clay in Austria rather than getting ready for
Wimbledon on the English grass? Good question, and I
suspect she's one of the few who has a passably legitimate
answer, considering how poorly the clay has treated her
this season and how kindly the grass has looked upon her
in years past. What that answer is is anyone's guess.
Maybe she's just a glutton for punishment.
More likely she felt that the field in Vienna offered
her the better chance to advance farther into the draw
(and defend the 186 points she earned last year in winning
the Birmingham title whose defense she's passing up this
week), with a surface change possibly resulting in another
quick 2003 exit in England. Form your own opinions on the
veracity of either of those claims. They're both equally
flimsy.
She IS the #1 seed in Vienna, but beyond that it's
difficult to see many other advantages. With the way
Jelena's playing, her gaining some last minute comfort in
another claycourt outing is difficult to envision.
Unless, maybe she DID learn something from Nadia's
exploits in Paris and is ready to try things out. Oh, if
only.
Of course, I can't predict it to happen. Actually, I
think there's a good chance she'll lose in her first match
again. Potential 2r foe Rita Grande won a title a few
weeks ago. This week makes it a full year since Jelena
could say the same... and she's not even returning to the
scene of the crime to attempt to reclaim her spoils.
I'll give Jelena the benefit of the great doubt and
pick her to get at least one victory this week, but then
fall in the QF (probably to Paola Suarez). Yes, it looks
like it'll be a "great" tuneup for SW19.
Needless to say, gluttony will not become her in
Vienna.
