JELENA-DOKIC.com - Sept.30, 2003
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JELENA CORNER
by Todd Spiker
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**LEIPZIG POINTS BREAKDOWN**
1187..Sept.22 total (#26)
25....2r
4.....1r: Kostanic (#83) - 7-6/6-4
0.....2r: Clijsters (#1) - 3-6/4-6
29....LEIPZIG (JD.com Grade: C-)
1187..Sept.29 total (#26)
1606..Sept.29 doubles (#17)
Last week began with The Corner lamenting Jelena's
decision to go to Leipzig. It didn't seem worth it...
another trip, another airport, another hotel, another
stop in the non-stop schedule that arguably might play
the biggest role in the fair Dokic's 25-32 record from
Leipzig 2002 to Leipzig 2003.
So, it's a week later... was it worth it?
Well, Jelena DID manage a tight 1st Round win over
Jelena Kostanic, and advanced to the doubles SF with
Marion Bartoli. But her singles play ended, as
expected, in the 2nd Round at the hands of (so-called)
#1 Kim Clijsters.
I suppose a case can be made that it WAS good that
Jelena didn't pull a "semi-tank" or have a complete
no-show effort in the match, considering either have
seemed to be the case the majority of her most recent
face-offs against world #1's. In Leipzig versus
Clijsters, Jelena managed seven games. A fair result.
Actually, it's the most games she's won in a "#1 match"
since defeating Martina Hingis in 1999, excluding a
3-set QF against then-#1 Jennifer Capriati last year.
**GAMES vs. WORLD #1's**
12..June 99 - Wimb.1r Hingis (WON)
11..June 02 - RG QF Capriati (*)
7...Sept.03 - Leip.2r Clijsters
6...Nov.02 - WTA QF S.Williams
5...Oct.00 - Zurich 2r Hingis
4...Sept.01 - US 4r Hingis
4...Apr.03 - C'ston QF S.Williams
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(*)-3 sets
But when you toss in the little nugget that Jelena
held a 3-0, one break lead in the 2nd set over
Clijsters, then proceeded to lose six of the final seven
games you realize that even on a "pressure-less" day she
managed to find a way to scrape up some disappointment
in a match where she could otherwise say she put in a
respectable effort against a world #1.
So was Leipzig worth it? Yes.. and no. I guess it's
a matter of what kind of mood you happen to be in.
Maybe what happens in Moscow this week will help decide.
**STAT OF THE WEEK**
--JELENA and SF APPEARANCES--
2001: 9 (tied for 5th-best in WTA)
2002: 11 (tied for 2nd-best)
2003: 1 (tied for 42nd-best)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Kremlin Cup
Tier I, Supreme Indoor
Unseeded; 1r vs. Stevenson (#31)
================================
Well, now comes Moscow, site of yet another of
Jelena's past high points. Two years ago, she won this
Tier I event. That title was her second Tier I win of
the 2001 season.
As we stand in the 40th week of the 2003 WTA season,
Jelena has only appeared in ONE semifinal (Warsaw).
Forty-one women playing on the tour this season can
claim to have accomplished at least two SF since
January. Perhaps more worrisome, though, is the fact
that she's only advanced to the QF in two of the last 16
events, as well. Yes, it's been a bumpy trip falling
from that #4 ranking to the current #26. Incidentally,
if you're looking for some mystical help for Jelena's
future, #26 was where she ended her 2000 season... so
maybe it'll be the 2004 Moscow tournament where Jelena
will finally be able re-live good times in Russia.
Let's hope so, because the chances of it happening this
week aren't good.
That being said, her Moscow draw isn't necessariy
life-threatening. Alexandra Stevenson is on the docket
in the 1st. Jelena SHOULD win, but the jury will remain
out until she actually DOES. If her recent matches are
any indication, it'll be a close one. Next up is the #2
seed, Amelie Mauresmo. A tough task, but since the
match would be Mauresmo's first since the US Open it
might not be a bad time to (possibly) catch the
Frenchwoman's game a bit out of sync.
If Jelena could pull off the upset, the victory could
be the confidence-boosting moment she so desperately
needs as she looks for SOMETHING to latch onto before
the season comes to a close. But, of course, that "if"
is a pretty big two-letter word at this point in the
season.
==============================
THIS WEEK ON TENNISRULZ BACKSPIN:
They're Here, There & Everywhere... Myskina continues
the Russians' post-US Open dominance
