.
.::GRAB-YOUR-ATTENTION PIC
OF THE WEEK::.
...okay, so this isn't exactly another post-championship
picture of Jelena. But I thought a little something
more, uh, "eye-catching" might be needed to lift
everyone up from the doldrums of yet another
disappointing result. Did it work? If so, then at
least SOMETHING was accomplished this week.
JELENA-DOKIC.com
June 10, 2004
JELENA CORNER
by Todd Spiker
So far, there's no danger of Pierre temporarily
changing the name on the ol' masthead to "Greenrulz" on
Jelena's behalf anytime soon. Birmingham, the site of
her fifth career singles title in 2002, saw fit to
that... or maybe it'd be more accurate to say that the
Fair One took care of that small detail all by her
lonesome.
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"I was
annoyed because I had a chance to win. It's
more annoying to have a chance to win and losing
rather than just getting beaten." - Jelena
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What to say about Jelena and her 4-6/6-7(4) opening
match loss to world #88 Shenay Perry on Wednesday?
Well, on the bright side, she did seem to register a
little anger (she tossed her racket in the third game
after she double-faulted to have her serve broken),
annoyance (see quote above) and, for a brief shining
moment, even rediscovered the renowned Dokic fight as,
down 4-6/2-4 & 0/30 ,she managed to climb back into the
match, gaining a set point on Perry's serve at 5-4 in
the 2nd set and raising hopes that the grass might just
be the home of her 2004 salvation.
On the other hand, Jelena ultimately failed to
convert that set point. Then, after breaking Perry's
serve to get to 6-6, she lost the tie-break 4-7 for her
fourth straight defeat (and FIFTH straight loss in a WTA
event).
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"Even when I
had chances in the second set I didn't take
them, which is disappointing. I didn't play the
important points well."
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The unconverted set point wasn't the only missed
opportunity, either. Jelena opened the match by staking
a 4-3 lead, then proceeded to drop the set by a 4-6
score (a common slipped-through-her-fingers occurrence
this season -- something that'll surely be discussed in
the annual "State of Jelena's Game" report following
Wimbledon). For the match, she was just 3-for-8 in
converting break points. Perry was 4-for-7, just enough
of an advantage to eke out the victory.
**CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS**
4...September/October '02
4...February/March '03
4*..MAY-current
(*)-has 5 straight defeats in WTA events, excluding 2-0
(+walkover loss) in Fed Cup
**LONG "WINLESS" STREAK**
5...May-current (4 defeats/1 walkover)
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"If I knew
what the problem was I would fix it."
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It was all too bad, for you could virtually smell a
possible momentum-swinging moment brewing in
Birmingham. A comeback win on grass might have done
wonders for Jelena's confidence. Unfortunately...
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"At times I
can play well, but my game is up and down at the
moment. I've not played well this year and my
confidence is very low."
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**JELENA ON GRASS**
1998...7-1
1999...9-2
2000...6-2
2001...6-3
2002...8-2
2003...2-2
2004...0-1
T....38-13
**JELENA TIE-BREAKS**
[WTA/ITF/Olympics]
1997...3-2
1998...1-2
1999...4-5
2000..10-8
2001...7-5
2002..10-5
2003...9-4
2004...2-4
T....46-35
**2nd QUARTER POINTS**
[2002-2004]
2002: 1241
2003: 452
2004: 33 (through Birm.)
What's the good news for this week? Well, maybe that
both Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters have now
officially pulled out of Wimbledon. So, it can be hoped
that SW19 will host something approaching the circus
that just recently took place in Paris. On grass, it's
conceivable -- if she can establish herself there with a
couple wins -- to harbor at least a trace of hope that
Jelena might be touched with some of that Russian-esque
good fortune that's now eluded her grasp for far too
long.
It might not happen, but it's a nice thought to
ponder a week and a half before play begins at the All
England Club (of course, I suppose you COULD choose to
go back and take another peek at that photo of the Fair
One instead).
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND
Hastings Direct Int'l
Tier II; Grass
======================
--JELENA AT EASTBOURNE--
2002 (#1) 2r/Bedanova
2003 (#6) 1r/Obata
Career W/L: 0-2
======================
...hmmm, Jelena couldn't possibly go through the
grasscourt season without a single victory. Could she?
It'd be nice if she'd take the time to claim the life of
that scary prospect as soon as possible, just to be on
the safe side.
All for now.
