Dokic to play for Australia.... Again

[love15]

[glow=red,2,300]LATEST NEWS[/glow]




November 30th 2005: Australian media has confirmed that Jelena said she would be playing under the Australian flag in 2006 and would start her season in Canberra

source - www.jelena-dokic.com


Former world number four women's tennis player Jelena Dokic has returned to Australia after a self-imposed four-year exile.

Dokic, whose ranking has slumped to 349, arrived in Melbourne from Vienna today.

The 22-year-old has not played in Australia since 2001 when she stormed out of the country, claiming the Australian Open draw was rigged against her and swearing never to play in the country again.

She has blamed her estranged father Damir for the decision to dump Australia and represent Serbia and Montenegro, where she was born and lived until 1994.

Dokic said she was happy to be back in Australia.

"I've had some really difficult things to deal with, so this has always been home," she said.

"This is where I did most of my tennis and most of the help I've gotten was from here."

Dokic said she was hopeful the Australian public would welcome her back.

"This is what I want, so hopefully many people will accept it," he said.

"It will be tough and not everyone will agree with me, but I really want to make a new start and I feel Australian more than anything."

www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200512/s1522936.htm


LOL

[Annie]

wow....I am speechless...I remember that whole mess she made...I guess we are all human and make mistakes...2006 seems to be a year of comebacks...I hope it works for Marat, too ;D

[SAFINNO1]

Hope so. I personally think it's too late for her.. hope she proves me wrong but i just dont have the same confidence i had ever since she rocked the world at Wimbledon

[blue]

I was always wondering where she was, as I think she´s a top 10 player. But I hope she can make her comeback successfully.
2006 maybe and hopefully the year of successive comebacks?

[SAFINNO1]

Wether or not she is an aus or serb she will be at the AO

Dokic earns Aussie Open wild card
Jelena Dokic spared Australian tennis authorities a difficult decision by winning the Australian Open wild card play-off in Melbourne on Monday.
The 22-year-old has recently chosen to represent Australia again, having left the country four years ago, rather than Serbia and Montenegro.

Tennis Australia would have faced protests had Dokic been handed a wild card for the first Grand Slam of 2006.

However, she earned her place with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Monique Adamczak.

Dokic came through four matches in total having not played since August.

I was very nervous the beginning of the match and that showed in the first set, but it was good to come out of that," she said.

"I don't have to wait to see if I will get (a wild card)."

Dokic had not played in Australia since leaving the country in 2001 and returning to play under the flag of her native Serbia and Montenegro.

A former world number four and Wimbledon semi-finalist, she has slipped down as far as 349 in the world.

"My ranking's pretty low, so I have nothing to lose," she said. "I have no points to defend, and I can only improve.

"Getting in the top 100 is my first goal so I can get into tournaments, but if I can play well and improve well with each match I think I can get in the top 50."

[Annie]

2006 - year of comebacks!!!!!!!!!!! Hope this means Marat's too ;D ;D ;D

[mackiemad]

good on her i say!! her dad was a wildcard and whilst it is sad they don't talk anymore at least she has learnt to be her own person and go after what she wants - something everybody must do during thier lives. though it will be a hard road for her...

[Annie]

Dokic arrives in NZ to begin Australian Open preparations
2005-12-28 05:12:08 GMT (Reuters)


WELLINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Former world number four Jelena Dokic arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday to begin her competitive preparations for next month's Australian Open.

Dokic, who returned to Australia earlier this month after acrimoniously leaving her adopted homeland in 2001, has been granted a wild card for next week's Auckland Open.

She has already won a qualifying wild card for the Australian Open, the year's first grand slam, which begins on January 16.

"For me, it's important just to get some matches in - that's my main goal," Dokic told reporters in Auckland.

"Hopefully, I'll do that here. The first match will be the toughest. I haven't had the feel of a tournament for a long time, but I'm really looking to being here again and to playing."

The 22-year-old, whose ranking has slipped to 349, last played a tournament in August and a WTA tour event in May.

"I haven't played in a long time and I'm trying to come back, which isn't easy," she added.

"But I'm really happy to be playing again and that's why I chose this tournament. I've been here before, I really like it here and I think I can play well."

Dokic, who has not played at the Australian Open since 2001 when her controversial father Damir claimed the draw was rigged against her, won a wild card for the grand slam last week in Melbourne.

"I had four matches there and that has given me quite a bit of confidence," she said.

"I've been playing better and better. Hopefully, I can have a good start here."

[SAFINNO1]

Hope she can really make progress, she was wonderful to watch when she was trouble free

[marats]

Wish her all the luck she can get !!

[love15]

I hope she makes it too... and doesnt take off again.. hehe
australia really needs some females ( and males ) representing us in tennis!!


love15

[SAFINNO1]

Dokic is currently playing in auckland so to keep with date keep going to the website

www.aucklandtennis.co.nz/asb_bank_classic/index.php

[SAFINNO1]

Dokic dad makes 'kidnap' threat

Jelena Dokic's estranged father has reportedly threatened to kidnap his daughter and kill an Australian in revenge for her return to the country.
Damir Dokic, renowned for his erratic behaviour, is quoted in Serbian daily Kurir as saying he has "thought about dropping a nuclear bomb on Sydney".

Damir said he sought help from Serbian politicians in kidnapping Jelena.

He added: "I have even thought about killing an Australian in revenge, but I wouldn't gain anything from it."

Jelena responded in a statement: "This has proven to be yet another unfortunate distraction around my return to Australia and competitive tennis.

"I have spent my life recovering from events such as this
I will continue to work very hard on getting back to the top of my game and putting comments like these firmly behind me."

The WTA, the governing body of women's tennis, said it was concerned about the remarks and would do all it could to support Jelena's comeback.

"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is concerned about the welfare of Jelena Dokic and will continue to support her comeback in every possible way," said a spokesman.

Jelena began her career playing for Australia in 1998 before changing countries for Serbia in 2001, but recently she became estranged from her father and returned to Australia.

She lost to Virginie Razzano of France in the first round of the Australian Open on Friday.

Damir has not spoken to his daughter in two years.

In the past he has claimed the Australian Open draw was rigged, been ejected from the US Open in 2000 for abusing staff about the price of a salmon lunch, and smashed a journalist's phone at Wimbledon.

"Australia, with the help of Croatia and the Vatican, have brainwashed my daughter," Damir told Kurir.

"Australia is a spoiled nation. They can expect my revenge."

[Annie]

Poor thing, I hope she has some good people around her to get her through this

[love15]

what a sick little man.. lock him up!!



love15