Article by Conchita Slice

Moscow Preview:

The draw has changed unfortunately for Jelena so a couple of new opponents have been added into my preview, sorry about that:

After a surprise upset last week at Leipzig to Meghannn Shaughnessy in what was a really tough draw, considering Jelena’s possible QF opponent has now reached that final, Jelena now enters into another tournament as a defending champion. It was this time last year that she was able to defeat the 6th (Farina Elia) and 8th (Dementieva) seeds and capture the title without dropping a set! Let’s hope the same result can occur this week and that another early round lost does not occur.

This year, Jelena is the number 3 seed behind V. Williams and Davenport, who is once again able to use her injury ranking, even though she was not even on the original entry list to begin with due to a late entry! This, however, seems to favour jelena as her draw is relatively easy if she can get past her second round opponent, who is most likely to be Amanda Coetzer. This South African player gave Jelena a tough match a couple of weeks ago at Bahia where Jelena was able to pull through and win 7-5 in the third. She is going to be a really tough competitor ONLY if Jelena suffers a mental lapse in any set but who knows, the qualifier could pull through giving Jelena a pretty easy 2nd round match.

The following is a list of players that are possible QF opponents, all of whom Jelena has beaten in the past:
i) Martina Hingis: is the former number 1 player in the world who is still recovering from foot surgery earlier this year. If Hingis is still unable to regain her form from very early this year and Jelena is playing consistently, then Jelena should pull through. Last time they played result: Dokic d. Hingis 6-4 6-3, August 2002 at Montreal.
ii) Nadia Petrova: is also recovering from an injury sustained at the Thalgo Women’s tournament in Australia earlier this year. If she gets past Hingis in the 1st round, she could be a really tough competitor although it is unlikely she will make it this far. Last result: Dokic d. Petrova 6-75 7-5 6-1, August 2001, Toronto.
iii) Anna Kournikova: has been in relatively good form as of late, reaching the final of a tournament in Shanghai a couple of weeks ago. If she is in form, Jelena will have to fight for this match as she was only just able to beat her, after saving two match points, in San Diego mid-year, wining 6-7 7-6 6-0.
iv) Qualifier: unknown as of yet but could be one of the following players: Anca Barna, Vera Zvonera, Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian, Magui Serna, Klara Koukalova or other players, depending on further qualifying results. Highly unlikely any of these players will make it this far although stranger things have happened!

Now her semi-final opponent would most likely be Lindsay Davenport who has taken the number 2 seeding position this week after the withdrawal of Jennifer Capriati due to n inflamed throat. Davenport should make it the semi-s with relative ease considering the highest seed in her quarter is Elena Dementieva, who is currently having a bad year as well. However, the dangerous looming Bovina, fresh off a tournament win and the person who ruined Jelena’s chances at the US Open, could make it through to the QF and if she is playing well and might upset Davenport where Jelena can seek revenge.

And if all goes well, Jelena will probably be playing Venus Williams, Anastasia Myskina or Lindsay Davenport in the final and might defend her title after all! So the draw is pretty good this year because there is no Meghannn Shaughnessy, no Venus Williams, no Anna Smashnova and no Eleni Daniilidou who are all possible threats in defeating Jelena if her poor recent form continues.

Predictions:
2nd round: Dokic d. Coetzer in 3 lopsided sets
QF: Dokic d. Hingis in 3 sets
SF: Dokic d. Davenport in 3 sets
F: Dokic loses to V. Williams in 2 sets

GOOD LUCK JELENA AND BRING HOME THE TROPHY!