SCORE / RÉSULTAT: 6-4, 6-4

Interview With/Entrevue Avec:

JELENA DOKIC

Tour Official: Questions for Jelena, please?

Reporter: It looked like you had moments of inconsistency and moments where you seemed to really feel like you were in control; is that how you felt out there?

Reporter: No, I think I had a slow start. But after that I played well. She's not easy to play against. And, you know, the courts were a little different from the last few weeks, so it takes a lot to adjust to, so I think I played well, a little slow, but otherwise I played well.

Reporter: At what point did you feel that you took the match over?

Jelena Dokic: Maybe 4?3 in the first set. I held that game 4?all and then I broke. I think that those two games were key. I started to play better, more aggressive and just getting the points. I think those two games were the key to the match.

Reporter: Looking ahead to your next match, is there anything you want to change about your game, or were you happy with your play today?

Jelena Dokic: I think I served well. You know, just get a little bit more consistent, just feel better on hitting the ball. The court here is very different. So I think I'll feel better in my next match and this was a good one to start adjusting to.

Reporter: How is it different?

Jelena Dokic: The colour is different, first of all. But it's a little slower than last week's and the balls are different, also, a little bit heavier, but everything is different. It's a completely different place and it's very humid here.

Reporter: That was going to be my next question. It got really sort of stifling out there.

Jelena Dokic: It is not so hot, but it's humid. I think if the sun was there and it was hot it would be really hot. But it's humid and it takes a little bit of time to adjust to.

Reporter: Do you find that as a little bit of a disadvantage, say, playing a qualifier two matches before, being faced with heavier balls?

Jelena Dokic: I've played matches the last few weeks, so it's not such a disadvantage. Of course, she's in a better position; she's played four matches here already, so it's a big difference. You know, I think she feels much more comfortable. She's gotten used to everything; it is a little bit of a disadvantage, but not a lot.

Reporter: Jelena, obviously this year has been a bit different than other years for you. Do you have any theories why it hasn't gone as well for you?

Jelena Dokic: I've played very well the last few years; I've just kept on going up. And you get a year where you don't play so well, and this is normal. This happens. I know this. I just have to keep on working hard and try to get some wins. I think I'm playing better at least the last few months than I did at the beginning. And, you know, just I think I'm starting to get my form back a little bit. It's normal. You can't play well for 10 years of your career.

Reporter: Is there anything that you could pinpoint that you could kind of point to and say that's why my form hasn't been where I want it to be?

Jelena Dokic: No, not really. I've played very well the last three years. I've played a lot matches. So I think mentally I got a little bit tired. That's basically it. I've had a lot of close matches that I didn't win, so you lose your confidence a little bit. That's the key to my game, I think. But I think it's coming back. And I had, you know, even the last two weeks, I had matches where I was close and I played good tennis.

Reporter: Is that all it takes between feeling good about where you are and kind of spiraling down a little bit is just losing a close match here and all of a sudden that fine edge is gone?

Jelena Dokic: Yeah, it doesn't take very much. It also doesn't take very much to get your confidence back up. Sometimes you just need a few matches to get it back. I think the more matches I get now, the better it will be. I lost some easy matches at the beginning of the year and I think that kind of ?? I think my confidence kind of went there a little bit. That's basically all that happened. I know this. I haven't played the best tennis that I can, but I think I'm improving.

Reporter: Kim Clijsters was just in here, you know, with her number one ceremony. Does that change the way you guys look at her or how you approach her on court as the number one player on tour?

Jelena Dokic: I think she's played good tennis for the last seven, eight months. I think eventually this had to come. I'm really happy for her; she's done very well. And she's taken obviously Venus and Serena even further away than Kim and Justine together. So I think this is ?? should be a real motivation for the other players. I think there are a lot of good players that could challenge Serena and Venus. And I think we've seen that. I think we've seen two this year for sure that have done that and have overtaken them. If they keep on going for the rest of the year, they'll be well ahead of the Williams sisters. It is not the talk about the Williams sisters anymore and I think everyone should realize this. This is a big change in women's tennis now. I think a lot of players realize this and will ?? I'm sure there will be a few more coming.

Reporter: So you see it, obviously, as a good thing?

Jelena Dokic: Sure, Serena and Venus are tough. Serena is injured, obviously, but they're very tough to beat and I'm sure they'll be back, but we have some more players that could get close to them.

Reporter: You mentioned that you played a lot of matches because of the busy schedule; do you ever think about cutting back a little bit, having a little rest?

Jelena Dokic: Sure. I think next year I'll look at it. Think about what I will do at the beginning of the year, also. And I think, last two years, I played well. I had over 70 or 80 matches singles. So this year's has been slow. So, you know, it's probably helped me a little bit, not being able to play so many matches this year may be better for me. And I haven't played half as much as I did last year or the last three years, I think. So I think this year's already been slower and I've tried to ?? I haven't been as tired mentally and physically. But, eventually, I think I will cut down, especially if I start doing better. With this schedule, it is impossible to play 25, 30 tournaments any more.

Reporter: You are were wearing red and white today, was that a conscious effort?

Jelena Dokic: No, Fila came out with this. We've been wearing it for the last few weeks. It's been like this all year, but I guess it suits it here.

Tour Official: Any other questions? Thank you.