INTERVIEW WITH /
ENTREVU AVEC:JELENA DOKIC
TOUR OFFICIAL: Okay.
Questions for Jelena.
JELENA DOKIC: How was it
on the court this morning, with the heat and wind and everything?
JELENA DOKIC: It was a
little bit of a slow, hot court. The balls were a little bit bigger, so
they weren't as fast, so it was a little bit different. I only got here
a day ago; so, considering that, I think I played okay. It's a little
bit warmer and more humid than what it has been in America. So,
considering everything, I think it was okay, but I think I have to
improve still a little bit more.
REPORTER: On what?
JELENA DOKIC: Just my
game in general, serve, just heating in general. I haven't had that much
practice here, just get used to the heat still.
REPORTER: Jelena, did you
say the balls seemed bigger or they are bigger?
JELENA DOKIC: They are
smaller here; here, they are smaller, they're quicker. The U.S. Open
ball is quicker. The ones that we played with were a lot slower and not
as fast.
REPORTER: Which ones do
they use in California?
JELENA DOKIC: I don't
know, Penn, I think.
REPORTER: You seemed to
be trying to come to the net more; is that a new part of your game?
JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, a
little bit. It's a little bit hard when you're not hitting as well than
feels good. Like I said, I haven't been practising here that much so it
was a little bit different. But I've been trying to do that a litle bit
more in my matches.
REPORTER: Jelena, last
week, you lost the semi-finals to Chanda Rubin, when she suggested that
you semi-tanked in 41 minutes, and then there were some suggestions that
you were having some personal problems that led to the defeat. Can you
address that issue or elaborate on that?
JELENA DOKIC: I was sick
all last week, I had the flu; I didn't feel very well. I played a lot of
tennis the week before and that week also and doubles, and I just -- I
wasn't able to compete at 100 per cent, and that was it. You know,
mentally, I wasn't very clear either. Like I said, I played a lot of
matches, so I just wasn't in a good enough condition to play.
REPORTER: Do you think it
was fair of her to say that?
JELENA DOKIC: I don't
think so, no. I think she knows better; but, that's her opinion and
maybe -- she's lost to me before. She knows what I usually play like and
I didn't even play 5 per cent of what I can play, so maybe that's why
she said it. But, again, you know, I was a little bit sick that week.
You know, I was really tired. But that's her opinion and she doesn't
know what happened, so --
REPORTER: Now that Serena
Williams is out of the tournament, how do you attack? Are your hopes
even higher than they were before the tournament?
JELENA DOKIC: The draw is
a little bit open up at the top, but that's not my half. So, I think it
was unfortunate that she pulled out. It doesn't change very much, you
know, unless I get to the final. And that is a long way away. For me, it
doesn't make a difference. The draw is a little bit different right now
and probably shouldn't have been like that.
REPORTER: Jelena, Anna
Kournikova is playing today and there's always a lot of attention on her
whenever she plays and a lot of pictures of her in the paper and so on.
Do other players on the tour resent that because she has never won a
tournament but she's getting all the endorsements and all the attention?
JELENA DOKIC: She gets
the attention for her looks. I think we all would like her to do a
little bit more on the tennis court. But, you know, that's her image.
She has had that for years now and you can't change that. So -- but I
think she -- I still think she can play well, better than she showed. I
played her in San Diego, she played very well. I'm sure that eventually
she will show what she can do.
TOUR OFFICIAL: Anything else?
REPORTER: What was the
best part of your match today?
JELENA DOKIC: I was still
a lot down and broke points to go down 3-love and then I sort of got my
head back together a little bit and I played a better second set after
that. But, generally, you know, I could improve on everything. I didn't
feel very comfortable, considering I haven't had that much practice
here. But, you know, it wasn't too bad.
REPORTER: How difficult
was the heat?
JELENA DOKIC: I felt
okay. I think it's very warm and humid, but it doesn't affect me. I
usually don't have too many problems with the heat. It didn't bother me
too much. Maybe the first match was better to be played later, maybe
later on in the afternoon when it gets warmer.
REPORTER: Do you do
anything special when it gets that hot? Do you drink a lot?
JELENA DOKIC: You do
normal things, drink more and just try to cool off a little bit. But
there's not much you can do when you are playing, especially when it's
so humid like it is here.
REPORTER: Do you like
playing in Montreal?
JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. It's
only my second time here. I've been in Toronto three times. It's a great
place, great stadium. The people are amazing here, and the crowds. I
think everyone loves coming back here every year.
TOUR OFFICIAL: Is that
it? Okay. Thanks. |
