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Interview with Jelena Dokic following her
semifinal victory over Kim Clijsters Do you feel happy? Jelena Dokic: I think so. I donıt think it has set in yet. I think itıs, I mean I am just happy to be in a final, but I think, you know I just tried to play well. I didnıt think it looked like that after the first set, and yea, I mean I am very happy. I didnıt expect this at all. I was happy to get to the semifinals. Today I was going into the match positive, but I just tried to play my game and have fun, and if I win, I win, and if not, it doesnıt matter. What did you start playing well so late? Dokic: She plays quick, a fast rhythm, and I think itıs difficult to get used to that. I didnıt start so well, and was a little bit slow and didnıt serve so well, and you know, hey the first set was over within 15 minutes. And then I started to play a little bit. I won a very close game at 1-all in the second set, and I think that was the key. Did you not get discouraged at all? Dokic: No, I knew, like I said, I didnıt want to get down or anything, I just wanted to go point by point from there on. I didnıt want to have the same second set, and I started to play better. You came on the tour as a big talent, played really well then had a couple of difficult months. Is this what you needed to get started again? Dokic: For sure. I played a lot of tennis the last few years. Iıve done well, and I think I slowed down a little bit this year. And it happens. And I think hopefully this is where I start again, and I definitely needed a tournament like this and especially a win like this. What was the difference between the start of the season and now? Dokic: I think I made some coaching changes which was a big key for me. I am much more motivated, a lot more positive, and I want it a lot more, I am more hungry than I was before. What about those matches youıve lost this year. Does it help at a tournament like this because youıre not quite as tired? Dokic: I mean for sure, itıs the end of the year anyway, thereıs one or two more tournaments anyway. It definitely helps, but I donıt think the physical thing is a factor, I just needed a tournament to try to get me back. Did you expect this at the beginning of the year? Dokic: I didnıt set my schedule at the beginning of the year. You have to see how you do. But I donıt think I played that many matches this year, I think I played a third of what I played the last two years. So I am not tired at all. I think I have practiced more than I have played matches. So this year I am not as tired as I was last year or the year before. Did you think before coming to Zurich that your game was much better, that your confidence was much better and you could have a game like this? Dokic: Not necessarily my confidence, but I worked hard the last three months. And I knew I just had to wait for a chance, wait for a tournament, to try to do well. And I have had some very close matches this year that I should have won, and should have maybe done like this, but it didnıt come. And you get frustrated sometimes, but I was just patient and waited for my chance. And even if it didnıt happen this year I had to try to stay positive and get ready for next year. But this definitely helps me. To beat number 1 and 2 in the world in a European tournament. This happened twice in the last 25 years. How would you feel your chances are for tomorrow? Dokic: Again, I wonıt put any pressure on myself, like I did today. I will just try to play, play my game, play well and compete. And if it happens, great, if not, I think I did well this week and you know, I will just try to do the same tomorrow and not be satisfied with what I did today and if I win, great. You are in a position to decide who will be number 1 next week, Justine or Kim. If you win, Kim stays number 1. how does that feel? Dokic: I donıt know, I donıt think we think about this. I think for them, 1 or 2 I donıt think will be decided now, I think itıs the whole year. I think Justine winning the two Grand Slams maybe has more of an advantage, but I donıt think any three of us think about this. I think they have some more tournaments and the Championships to go, so I donıt think it will come down to my match. Are you going to play next week and the week after? Dokic: I am scheduled to play just next week. What are your goals for the rest of the season now? Dokic: My goal is to play well tomorrow and like I said, I am happy with this week, the way it went, and it has definitely given me more confidence to work harder in the off season and prepare myself for next year. And you know, itıs been a while that I could compete with the number 1 or 2 in the world, which Kim is, and I did that today, so I am happy with that. Do you expect a phone call from Fila? Dokic: I donıt know, weıll see what he does. I donıt know, maybe he calls, maybe not. Itıs up to him. Has this happened that they call for a match like this or not? Dokic: It has happened at Grand Slams before and bigger tournaments, to congratulate and things, but I think a sponsor should do it anyway. Does it matter that you and Kim play with Fila? Dokic: No, I mean you play against players that are from the same companies, and I think that they are both, I mean they had me in the top five, they had her at number 1, so I think theyıve had some good players. Whatıs the difference between your match against her at Leipzig and this week? Dokic: I competed much better today. I definitely served better, and um, you know I tried to stay in the points. And I lost my chance in the second set in Leipzig, I got down and I was not so focused and I think thatıs whatıs been the difference this week and this match. You were here at the finals two years ago. What happened since then? Dokic: A lot, I guess good and bad. I like this tournament, the surface suits me, and I seem to play well here, and the crowd and I like coming back here every year. Are you going to wash your clothes, eat the same food and restring your racquet tonight? Dokic: Yea, for sure (laughs) I will try. What is that food? Dokic: The food? No, I just try to eat in the same places. Um, I mean I kinda eat the same food all the time, I get sick of it. But I think the racquet and the clothes are more important! Did you already wash them? Dokic: No. I will do it when I get back. Do you meet up with Kim and say you play in red, I play in blue, or was it just coincidence? Dokic: No, just coincidence. We have different clothes, so we wear whatever. Sometimes we wear the same in matches, which is not so I mean, we look the same, and weıre both blonde, so we look identical. It was already difficult now. Dokic: Yea it was definitely. We didnıt know who was going to wear what. But in Leipzig, we nearly wore the same things, I think we did. When did you last play doubles with her? Dokic: Last year I think, I donıt remember. Leipzig last year. Do you still feel, Jelena, that your place is really also up there with Kim and Justine in the top five, in the top of the world? Dokic: I mean, Kim and Justine have been the most consistent this year and played the best tennis at the moment. I think a win like this will help me, I still have to work on my game and my physical side and mental. But definitely I think. You know, I have been 4 before, I would like to get to the top 10 first and then work from there, and thatıs my goal at the moment. And this tournament will definitely help me, and you know, I think eventually if I work hard, I can get at least close to them. Would you like the questions better if it were about you being number 1 or playing to become number 1? Dokic: I mean at the moment they are, and I just have to focus myself to get to top 10 and work my way from there. I mean it has taken them a few years to get there, so it takes a lot to get to number 1. You know, itıs not something that you think about, I mean I would like to be number 1, there are not too many number 1ıs that have been so far. So if it happens, I would be very happy with that. I just want to try my best. If thatıs to be 1 or 5 or 10, thatıs fine but I will know that I did my best for me. You said that such a result will encourage you to start earlier and play in Australia? You said the other day it was 50-50. Dokic: Iım considering that. I lost to Kim early in the year easily, then Leipzig was tougher, and now that Iıve beaten her, I would like to have an extra Grand Slam. I would like to go there and play and start the season at the same time as everyone else and not have a disadvantage. Definitely thinking about that, and I think there is a possibility. |
