[SM]

Dokic warns of slump after Open run

AAP - February 2, 2009, 6:36 pm

Comeback queen Jelena Dokic is expecting a mini form slump after her epic run at this year's Australian Open.
Dokic returns to tennis this week as she attempts to help Australia climb out of the Asia/Oceania group at the Fed Cup tournament in Perth.
West Australian Casey Dellacqua, Sam Stosur and doubles specialist Rennae Stubbs make up the rest of the Australian team, which is desperate to climb back into the second-tier of the World Group after being relegated to the Asia/Oceania zone in 2007.


Dokic's world ranking rocketed from 187 to 91 after her giant-killing run at the Open, where she defeated the likes of world No.28 Alisa Kleybanova, No.13 Caroline Wozniacki and No.19 Anna Chakvetadze on the way to the quarter-finals.


But the tournament took its toll and she expected a downturn in form.
"I said after the Australian Open I could have a let down in the next two or three months," Dokic said in Perth on Monday.
"If I lose some matches and lose some first rounds it wouldn't be a surprise.
"I had so much support in Melbourne and was just building pretty much on the crowd."
Australia will be joined by India, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, New Zealand and Uzbekistan at the Asia/Oceania zone tournament, with Tuesday's draw to determine the make up of each pool of four.
The winner of each pool will meet in Saturday's final, the victor to progress to the World Group II playoff in April.


"We expect to win," Australia's Fed Cup coach David Taylor said.
"I think anything less than that we'll be very disappointed with.
"It's great to have the choice (of players at our disposal).
"It's three top 100 players and I think we are the only team here with that."
Dellacqua, whose world ranking slipped to 88 following her first-round exit from the Open, said she had gotten over criticism from leading coach Roger Rasheed about her weight.
"I've never met Roger before so I said what I needed to say about that," Dellacqua said.
"It hasn't stopped me doing what I need to do . . . doing what I can to become a better tennis player and a better athlete."


.........fair enough, I still think she has alot of room for improvement and probably needs a few more months, however she should do fine at the fed cup as the other teams arent very impressive :help:

 

[BlameSerena]

I really hope she does well, but I wouldn't be surprised if she had a little let down. Obviously she seems to be expecting that from her comments.

 

[Uranium]

Good to know, she doesn't want people having really high expectations for her after Melbourne.
Anyways, good luck in Fed Cup Jelly

 

[schorsch]

well thats just normal, out of the blue runs often come with a few tough matches afterwards, the important thing is to keep hanging in and doing well in the long run

 

[Ballbasher]

That's why I think it's good to play Fed Cup afterwards!
The pressure of performing well, won't be on her ONLY! And she will have the chance of possibly easy match-ups, if she gets to play a tie!

 

[-jenks-]

Although she won't have the kind of crowd support she had in Melbourne, I think her story touched almost every tennis fan's hearts and she will have support wherever she plays this year.

 

[Uranium]

That's why I think it's good to play Fed Cup afterwards!
The pressure of performing well, won't be on her ONLY! And she will have the chance of possibly easy match-ups, if she gets to play a tie!

With how Casey is playing in singles (bad), the team should be:
Singles: Stosur and Dokic
Doubles: Dellacqua and Stubbs

 

[Kworb]

Well I suppose that's a good way of taking pressure off yourself.

 

[Ciarán]

Well I suppose that's a good way of taking pressure off yourself.

:worship:

 

[Philip]

Well I suppose that's a good way of taking pressure off yourself.

Yup :lol:

Same story from Jelena really. She was totally slating herself throughout the AO saying she didnt expect to win another match after winning through the 1st round...!

 

[youizahoe]

Good thinking by Dokic, she's keeping the pressure away, so she can keep on playing relaxed tennis and suprise everyone.

 

[switz]

With how Casey is playing in singles (bad), the team should be:
Singles: Stosur and Dokic
Doubles: Dellacqua and Stubbs

i agree although i suspect Stubbs will want to play with Stosur given they are playing together this year. Can't see anyway that Dokic and Stosur won't be the singles players given their impressive form.

 

[Electrique]

No pressure Jelena. :yeah:

 

[RenaSlam.]

Please.

Jelena has more talent in her index finger than Casey/Sam have in their entire bodies.

 

[A Magicman]

She knows it was a fluke.

 

[DokicPova]

isnt she positive?

 

[Eclipsed]

Nice to see she's being so optimistic.

It's likely she'll have a mini slump, but mentally she shouldn't expect it to happen or she won't do as well for sure in these next few weeks. She should mentally play like I wish Venus would, meaning pretend she's at the OZ Open with all the crowd support no matter what tourney she is playing. I'd expect the support to be on her side in most matches she plays in anyway.

 

[Williamsser]

Good luck, Jelena!

 

[Lindsayfan32]

She knows it was a fluke.

I wouldn't call it a fluke but she being realistic. It only natural to have some sort of letdown / comedown after a run like that. Jelena most likely said this to take some of the pressure off too.

 

[SM]

I wouldn't call it a fluke but she being realistic. It only natural to have some sort of letdown / comedown after a run like that. Jelena most likely said this to take some of the pressure off too.

yeah it cant be a fluke as she has made the quarters or better at 3 of the 4 majors....premature, maybe but who cares :worship: