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JELENA-DOKIC.com - August 3, 2003 JELENA CORNER by Todd Spiker

THIS IS HER UNITED STATES OF WHATEVER

**SAN DIEGO (#9 seed) BREAKDOWN** 1758...July 28 points (#12) 29.....3r 15.....2r: Serna (#31) - 2-6,6-2,6-3 0......3r: Rubin (#8) - 6-1,3-6,4-6 44.....SAN DIEGO TOTAL (in best 17) -267...2002 points off (S.D. RU) -223...RANKING POINTS FOR WEEK 1535...August 4 points (#15) C+.....JD.com S.D. singles grade This is what Jelena's 2003 season has come to -- encouragement must be gained from the fact that she didn't tank in the 3rd set against Chanda Rubin last week in San Diego. But when a player who was #4 a year ago, living in the golden glow that two of her best career victories (over Jennifer Capriati in San Diego, then Martina Hingis in L.A.) had given her, is just 17-19 and #15 in the rankings seven months into this season, one's forced to find encouragement WHEREVER it can be found. Not that there weren't some definitive reasons to see a sign of a light at the end of the dark tunnel in San Diego. Jelena DID manage to get a victory over Magui Serna despite losing the 1st set (making her 2-16 in those situations in '03). Of course, one could say the accomplishment was somewhat offset by the loss to Rubin in the next round after winning the 1st set against the world #8 (just her third loss in eighteen matches when she's gained such an early advantage). After blowing off the 2nd set against Rubin, Jelena fell down 0-2 and 1-4 in the 3rd, and the "semi-tank" against Rubin in Los Angeles -- whose anniversary arrives this week -- looked like it would get an unwanted sequel (kind of like "Charlie's Angels 2") a little farther down the California coast. She certainly had every chance and reason to do so. But she didn't. Even if she ultimately ended up falling 4-6, she fought back with something resembling a purpose rather than trying to get off the court as quickly as possible. Is that enough to feel slightly good about? In a season where highlights have been fleeting as well as few and far between, it was at least something tangible to latch onto as the long wait for the return of someone resembling the single-minded Jelena of old continues. So far, 2003's high points have been quickly dashed not long afterward by discouraging moments that only serve to set Jelena's confidence back once again. She needs some momentum in the worst of ways. We'll have to wait to see what happens in L.A. to find out whether San Diego's bright spots are going to end up being just like all the others.

**3Q POINTS CHART** 2002-----------2003 0......WK.28......0 0.......FC........0 65.....WK.30.....64 267....WK.31.....44 118....WK.32....... 192....WK.33....... 0......WK.34....... 40....US OPEN......

**JELENA STATISTICS IN 2003** Season Won/Lost.........17-19 vs.lesser rankeds.......17-15 vs.higher rankeds.........0-4 3-setters.................5-8 1st Quarter...............5-6 2nd Quarter.............10-11 3rd Quarter...............2-2

THIS WEEK

CARSON (Los Angeles), CALIFORNIA JPMorgan Chase Open (Week of Aug.4) Tier II; Hardcourt #5 seed; 2r vs. Serna/Kuznetsova 2002: SF-Rubin (118 points) POINTS W=195; RU=137; SF=88; QF=49; 3r=25; 2r=14; 1r=1 ================================== As has been the case all season for Jelena, advancing deep into the draw in L.A. a year after the "semi-tank" will be anything but easy. That being said, the small little bright spots in her performances have started to pile up and might be ready to pay some dividends. An encouraging (albeit disappointing) Wimbledon, a commanding win over Stevenson in Stanford, a come-from-behind win over Serna and three-setter against Rubin (author of that so-on-the-money-it's-scary "semi-tank" comment last year) in San Diego. Put them all together and maybe it'll mean some progress will be made this week in the form of actual wins as Jelena fights to maintain a position in the Top 16 seeds at the US Open (made at least a hair bit easier with Serena's knee surgery). Jelena's first match this week could be a doozy, against either Serna or Kuznetsova (a semifinalist in S.D.). But in a 17-19 year, Jelena is 3-0 against the pair combined (6-0 in her career) and might actually be able to go into the match with a rare pocketfull of confidence. After that, a face off against either Farina Elia or Asagoe would provide another healthy challenge. But, again, while Jelena is just 2-2 this 3rd Quarter, neither of those two has notched a single main draw WTA win since Wimbledon (though Asagoe qualified in San Diego, and won two Fed Cup matches a few weeks ago). If Jelena could somehow make her way to this point, she'd have a QF result under her belt and something to hold her head high about heading into Toronto no matter how L.A. would turn out. It's at that point that she'd probably face soon-to-be-#1 ranked player in the world Kim Clijsters (unless Nadia Petrova were to upset her, presenting us with that Jelena-Nadia showdown we missed out on in Stanford), giving her another nothing-to-lose chance to show if she learned anything from her mid-match, set-and-a-half walkabout against Rubin last week. If Clijsters fails to grab the title in San Diego on Sunday, she could be in a position to need that win over Jelena to keep alive her chances of surging past Serena on the computer the following Monday (if she wins in San Diego, her ascension will be assured, meaning the pressure of BEING #1 will already be weighing down on her shoulders)... and Clijsters hasn't exactly been at her best in pressure situations this season. That little fact may end up meaning nothing to Jelena this week, or it could mean everything. Remember when deep-into-the-tournament matchups with the likes of a Clijsters were more than just hoped for, but a sure thing? Boy, it'd be nice to be able to relive those memories this week, wouldn't it? Oh, per chance to dream. Or maybe not. -------------------------------- -------------------------------- THIS WEEK ON TENNISRULZ BACKSPIN: July Award Winners