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Jelena Dokic named as Brisbane International wildcard

Jelena Dokic named as Brisbane International wildcard

Tennis Australia Tuesday 23 December 2008 15 Comments »

Jelena Dokic was announced today as the first woman wildcard entrant to join the Brisbane International line-up.

Dokic will join world No.5, Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azareka, Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and former Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo in the women’s draw.

Dokic is the third Australian to be accepted into the tournament, joining Samantha Stosur and Jarmila Gajdosova.

Brisbane International Tournament Director Steve Ayles said he is delighted to have Dokic join an already strong women’s line-up.

“Dokic showed she still has what it takes last week at the Australian Open Play-off,” Ayles said.

“She is hitting the ball crisply and is regaining form and will be a real contender at the Brisbane International.”

Currently ranked No. 178, Dokic secured a wildcard into Australian Open 2009 after beating Brisbane teenager Monika Wejnert 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3 in the wildcard play-off women’s final at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

The former world No. 4 and member of the Optus Australian Fed Cup team, has steadily worked throughout 2008 to get her ranking to within the world’s top 200 for the first time since 2004.

In 2008, Dokic qualified for the WTA Tour event in Hobart where she reached the second round, she won three ITF titles, her first since 2002, and reached the semifinal of a fourth.

Tickets are now on sale for the Brisbane International through Ticketek, with reserved stadium seating starting at just $24.90.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.



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  • Chris

    Hopefully Monika Wejnert and Isabella Holland get the other 2 wildcard spots.

  • http://wtatour Michael

    I remember Jelena from her first big splash beating Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon.
    She was one of my favorites for years and I am
    so happy to see her playing back into form. I
    wish her all the luck in the world during this
    Aussie summer portion of the tour!!!

  • Graham

    If there are any more discretionary wildcards available I would hope that Tennis Qld & Tennis Aust or whoever is responsible for the wildcards would give Monika Wejnert one as her results in the last 3 weeks have been far more impressive than Bernard Tomic & Jelena Dokic. Monika (RANKED IN THE 30′S IN AUSTRALIA & over 500 in the world ) has beaten Dokic, Rodianova (both ranked in the top 10 in Aust & in the top 200 in the world) & approximately 10 other players (virtually all older & physically stronger than her) & ranked in the teens & twenties in Australia. This is an incredible achievement that deserves considerably more recognition than has so far been exposed in the media (ITS ALL BEEN ABOUT TOMIC & DOKIC – SO FAR.

  • Thomas

    I fully agree with Chris

    Monika and Isabella deserve the other wildcards
    especially Monika, she just beat Jelena, last week.
    The young up and comming players need these sort of oppertunities if they are going to become successfull senior players.

  • Matt

    GO JELENA!!!!, … went to watch her twice at the Aussie Open Wildcard playoff last week! Shes playing quiet well, so hopefully she can go a long way.

  • Jorge Brown

    I am so happy to see Jelena coming back.
    I do wish her the very best luck!
    She had a tremendous talent and I am sure it is still there.

    GO Jelena!!!

  • http://grandslam008.piczo.com Joe

    i totaly agree with chris it should be monika ,im not so sure about Isabella maybe somebody els should get it somebody like Ayumi Morita but their are three more wildcards left

    im supporting Ana go Anci!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.fotolog.com/zeke18 Ezequiel

    GREAT!!! I love Jelena since she was 15 years old,and since the first time I saw her playing against Hingis in the 1999 Wimbledon first round I thought she was going to have an incredible future…she was just 15,intelligent,powerfull,she had terrible baseline groundstrokes and her game was pretty complete…
    I´m really happy about seeing her coming back from the nothing,no rankings,no training,etc…
    I hope this coming 2009 Jelena would be her year…as 2001 or 2002…when she reached the Top 4 in the world…
    best wishes for everyone!
    GO JELENA!!!!

  • Mitchell Little

    I am ambivelant towards Jelena. She has acheived so much in her career but has always had a love-hate relationship with Australia. She has come back again, looking fit and most importantly with her tail between her legs and extending an olive branch too her Australian fans. Jelena has not earned this (another) wildcard. I hope that she finds some form and enjoys Brisbane. If she is serious to have one final assualt on the tour and proudly represent Australia then I will back her one more time.

    I also think Tennis Australia need to award the remaining wildcards to the girls that did so well in the playoff!

  • Peter

    Great to see Jelena coming back into some form. Best of luck in the Open. Lets hope 2009 sees her rise back up through the rankings.

  • http://www.fotolog.com/zeke18 Ezequiel

    you right Mitchell,but she also made very well in the Play-off!

  • http://wtatour Michael

    I agree with Ezequiel, she won the playoff so no
    one did better than Jelena. She deserves to have
    this wildcard more than anyone. As for her what
    can only be described as a troubled relationship
    with TA, she’s lucky that she turned out as well
    as she has with a father like hers. She has made
    her apology and owned up to her previous comments.
    Things are sometimes said during the heat of any
    competitive situation that are not entirely fair.

    In my opinion Jelena still has more potential to
    move substantially up the rankings than the other
    girls. She’s been #4 in the world, she’s proven that she has what it takes at the highest level of the game. Go Jelena!!!

  • Wogy

    Monica…by far best young prospect in Aussie Land by miles, much better than Tomic and Co. She’s DESERVED Wild Card for Brisbane more than anybody else and it will be shame if She misses. Jelena Dokic…if you ask me …newer, newer again and She is nearly 26…her best is in PAST.

  • Vito Dmitrovic

    Its great to see Jelena again. She will be in the top 20 this year. Go Jelena!

  • Sando

    But she’s playing for Australia, not her country Serbia? Why?

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