Article sent by Todd Spiker

JELENA-DOKIC.com - September 9, 2003

JELENA CORNER  by  Todd Spiker

 

[4th Quarter Outlook]

   Hope still persists that the fair Dokic can get something from 2003 other than a lesson in how the other half lives (and how to handle embarrassing losses and blown opportunities).  So, Jelena now heads to the Far East in search of her fortune... close to where this disappointing season began.
   In late January, Jelena first appeared on the scene this season in Tokyo.  After surviving a 0-5 start against Angelique Widjaja to win the match, Jelena went out in less-than-stylish fashion in a QF match against Lisa Raymond, losing 12 of the final 15 points in the match.  The die was cast, and she spent her early season a month behind the field in preparation and match play.  Except for a few sparks (in Miami & Warsaw), Jelena's momentum has been continually stunted for eight months now, and only recently has her game shown even small signs of anything approaching the form she desired last January.  Even of late, inconsistency has dogged her, and match toughness has been severely lacking (5-1 in the 3rd -- need I say anything more?).
   A good ending to 2003 can only lead to better things in 2004 for a player where confidence is paramount to success.  Some goals to shoot for over the next two months:


1)Find a way to string together enough wins to make a SF.  Jelena's only had one in 2003, after eleven last year (with five finals) and nine in 2001 (six finals).

2)Get back into the Top 15 (Jelena's currently #21) to give her a shot at better draws if she decides to resurrect the Dorothy Tour in January.  A Top 16 seed at her first Australian Open since 2001 would be extremely important.

3)Get over .500 for the season.  Right now, she's 20-23.  It'll take at least one big run to a final (or maybe two SF) to do it.

4)Finally, it'd be nice to extend that title-winning streak to three seasons (3 wins in 2001, 2 in 2002).  Considering the events Jelena's likely to enter, her best shot might end up coming early in either Bali or Shanghai before the biggies return to the fray in preparation for the final Tier I's and WTA Championships later this year.


   Of course, one question this quarter will revolve around how many times Jelena will play.  She's played 31 events in the last 12 months, but noted at the US Open that she doesn't feel like she's played enough matches to get her game's form back (thanks to all the early losses).  But at least she did give a nod to quality over quantity, saying she'll probably play a little less if she has early success this quarter.  Let the push-pull begin.  It should be yet another fascinating process.


 

FAR OUT IN THE FAR EAST? (WEEKS 37-38)

   Jelena's confirmed her decision to start her quarter off in Bali and Shanghai.  Truthfully, these next two weeks might provide her best shot at great success the rest of this season since they'll be two of the smaller tournaments she'll enter (despite being #21 in the rankings, she's the #4 seed in Bali).
   Right off the bat, Jelena has 118 and 104-point 2002 points defenses from Bahia and TokyoPC, two tournaments absent from the WTA schedule this season.  In other words, she'll need some good results quickly to protect her ranking from slipping even farther (though she did move up 2 spots after the Open), which would give her far worse seeds and draws for the rest of the year.  So early 4th Quarter success might not improve Jelena's ranking, but it would put up a mini-firewall.  Plus, what it could do for her frame of mind is even more important.


EUROJELENA Jr.

   After the Far East, Jelena will head to Europe.  Where?  We'll have to wait and see about that.
   In Weeks 39-44 last year, she accumulated only 113 points.  So, if she's going to improve her ranking position it'll have to come here.  Bali and Shanghai will determine how much she plays, but the Tier I's in Moscow (where Jelena was the champ in '01) and Zurich (RU in '01) would seem to be certain destinations.  Leipzig and/or Filderstadt are other possibilities.
   Since Jelena won't qualify for the WTA Championships, Linz or Luxembourg could be where she decides to complete her season unless she makes the trip back to North America for the new event in Philadelphia or even get within shouting distance of Pierre at the Quebec City tournament.
   There is a final week Tier V in Pattaya City, Thailand as the Championships will be played in L.A..  Without another way to defend her 156 points from last year's WTA's, could Jelena show up there?  If she does, it might not be a good sign about how the weeks between now and then went for the Fair One.

   By then, Jelena's January intentions should be known.  So, we'll have some idea if 2004 will usher in a "new beginning" Down Under (or at least a reconciliation) or simply a better, more well-thought out approach to her preparation and early-season scheduling.
   With 2003's disappointments now mostly behind her, 2004 will have a chance to be a year of revival as Jelena's trip down the comeback trail will officially begin.
   In truth, though, it could begin this week... it's up to Jelena and the "will it or won't it" presence of her game.


**4th Quarter Goals**
1 W/RU
1 SF (2 SF if no Final)
3 QF
1 early