Brisbane International Tennis - Australian Open Series

Dokic primed to eclipse 2009

AAP Friday 1 January 2010 5 Comments »

Jelena Dokic believes she’s fitter and hitting the ball better than before her nation-stopping run to the Australian Open quarterfinals last January.

After resolving to return to the WTA’s top 20 in 2010, Dokic on Friday indicated she can repeat the heroics of last year’s stunning comeback at Melbourne Park.

The Serbia-born right-hander recaptured Australian hearts by upsetting a series of seeds before falling to Dinara Safina in a three-set cliffhanger in the quarters.

As brightly as she starred at the Open, Dokic said she was now in superior shape and possessed a more refined all-round game than 12 months ago.

“I do [feel I'm playing better] actually,” she said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball well.

“I feel that my biggest improvement has been my fitness, I think I’m moving very well and my endurance is really good so I feel like I’m in much better shape than I was last year.

A dangerous floater in the draw of the Brisbane International, Dokic returned to Melbourne from her Monaco home base on Boxing Day with memories still warming her heart.

“It was great, I love that place,” she said in Brisbane. “I love Melbourne in general, even when I had my toughest times when I was coming back three years ago and doing all the play-offs I had a lot of fun there.

“I always came early to train there and I feel like it helped me get my career back on track.”

One of the best ball-strikers on the WTA tour when on song, Dokic ended a topsy-turvy year with two titles and a final loss in three challenger tournaments in Europe to see her ranking improve to No.56.

The 26 year old worked extra hard to regain her fitness after a three-month layoff for glandular fever, which came after suffering a back injury when up a set and a break at the second round of the French Open against Elena Dementieva.

Dokic will be among the most scrutinised players at the Brisbane International, starting Sunday, along with drawcards Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and Ana Ivanovic.

She didn’t rest over Christmas, motivated to continue her late-season momentum and play more consistently to break back into the top 20.

“I still have to prove myself and I still have to have more consistent results and that’s what I’m looking to do this year, I would like to have 15-20 tournaments where I do well, not three or four,” she said.

“Consistency is the key.”

Ranked as high as No.4 in 2002, Dokic conceded she must shoulder greater expectations this month but deflected most of the pressure on to Australia’s highest ranked player, Sam Stosur.

“I think Sam has more than me,” she said. “She is [No.13] in the world and is expected to do well.

“I don’t feel like everything is on me.”

Image: SMP Images

Tags: Jelena Dokic

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