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Article sent by Glyn James Qatar Total OpenDoha - Following last week's disappointment in Dubai, Jelena travels to Doha this week for the Qatar Total Open. Like last week's event, it is a Tier II tournament and has $600,000 as prize money. The event will be played outdoors on the hardcourt, and Ayman Azmi Galal will have the responsibility of directing the tournament. Amazingly, tickets for the event are free as organisers are trying to promote the sport in the area, so if you fancy a last minute trip, you can pick your tickets up at the Khalifa Tennis Stadium. For more information on the area and any other queries about the event, you may visit the official tournament website by clicking on the following link - http://www.qatartennis.org/ladies/pages/ind ex.php (yes, this one). Total, Mercedes Benz and Qatar Television are amongst the sponsors, whilst Eurosport will be providing it's usual poor coverage with a staggering two hours to cover the whole tournament. Check local times to find out when you'll be missing the action. Last year's winner was Anastasia Myskina of Russia, and she too is in the draw this year. Lightning anyone? It is true that lightning can never strike the same point twice, but there's an all too familiar feeling about this year already, and many of us are still suffering from the sting that the first bolt provided in 2003. But is Jelena really slipping down that same path again? Last week, the common goal was obvious: Jelena had to beat Mandula (even Mr Spiker said so). A loss after that would have been disappointing but not unbearable. So what are the consequences of the loss to Mandula? Well a lot depends on Jelena's reaction to that loss. If she doesn't bounce back and score some victories soon, then there could be trouble again, but that is something to consider a few weeks down the line. The season is still in its early stages, and there is no need for panic quite yet. It could be quite the struggle, but certainly not one that is beyond Jelena. She also has the advantage of not having a first round bye. It may sound like an odd statement, but if Jelena plays the first round, then she is facing less quality opposition than she would have been last year when her first hurdle was a second round match against a player who had just won. Jelena needs match practise, and Jelena needs some confidence boosting wins. This week should prove to be an ideal opportunity for both those things with the way in which the draw has panned out. The Draw -
Even in current form, from this draw you would expect Jelena to reach the Quarter Final stage and place two much needed victories under her belt. Her first round opponent, Australian Nicole Pratt, recently picked up her first WTA tour in Hyderabad at the age of 30, but last week was easily beaten in the second round of Dubai in two simple sets by Ai Sugiyama. She will not play as well as Mandula, but Jelena will still need to play well. If she does, then she'll come through comfortably. Should Jelena pass this test, then she will set up a meeting with China's Jie Zheng, who coincidentally lost in the first round last week to none other than Nicole Pratt. Once again, you'd expect Jelena to pull through. Then comes the tougher opposition. Jelena would most likely play the defending champion Anastasia Myskina in the quarter finals, should Myskina overcome last year's finalist Elena Likhovtseva in the second round of course. Last week I went for a Jelena win, but the climate is so uncertain now that I will not go for Jelena this time. A Quarter Final appearance is the most we can hope for right now, and that would definitely restore the natural order and restore some confidence in the world of Jelena. ---------------------------------------------------- Prediction - 1rd - Jelena def Pratt in three. 2rd - Jelena def. Jeng in three. QF - Myskina def. Jelena in two. ---------------------------------------------------- |
