WIMBLEDON

June 26, 2003

Jelena Dokic

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, not bad (smiling). No, I think I played well. I was consistent. I was playing my game. I was attacking. I didn't make many errors. I just kept the ball in, but aggressive, which was good.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I don't think it was -- I mean, it was an improvement, but I think I played well in the first match. I just had a very difficult opponent. She served well, she hit just as hard. So I don't think -- you know, I still think I played a very good first match. This one was better. But, you know, in both of them I played well.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I'm happy with the way it's going. You know, I've improved every match that has gone by. I've played well, so I'm happy, yeah.

JELENA DOKIC: I mean, it happened, and I didn't play well for half a year. I mean, I knew hopefully it would get to a stop somewhere. I mean, I just had to keep on practicing and playing, which is what I've done. You know, it happens. I mean, I've played since -- since I've got on the tour, I've just kept going up. I mean, I just got -- I mean, into a slump and to a stage where I was just, you know, mentally and physically feeling a little bit tired. I was losing some very close matches. It happens. But, you know, I seem to be coming out of it a little bit.

JELENA DOKIC: I think the European players are much more hungry, and I think -- I mean, I don't know how the system works here. I'm not sure. But, you know, Europe has always been like this. I mean, I come from a similar kind of thing. I mean, I didn't have anything when I was growing up. I was not spoiled. I had nothing. And I worked for it. You know, I was very hungry to make it. That was the only thing on my mind. That's what I was pushing for. I think all the top players that have come have been from Europe and from families like that. I mean, maybe they're just not hungry enough. Maybe they're just not pushed enough. I don't know how the system is, whether they train properly, what is done, what they do. You know, I think the players that have less opportunities are usually the ones that get through because they're so hungry.

JELENA DOKIC: I think Elena Baltacha is a very good player. She played very well against me. She has a big game. I mean, I don't know how her health problems are. Hopefully she'll be well. I wish her all the luck. She's a good player. I think they just have to keep on working at it, and see what they're doing wrong, try to figure something out. I mean, you have to change something when no one gets past the first round, and there's not even a lot of girls playing.

JELENA DOKIC: No.

JELENA DOKIC: I don't think anyone's -- I mean, she just got on the tour. I don't think she's playing that many tournaments. I mean, we haven't seen that much of her. I haven't played her either. We'll just have to wait and see. I think this is maybe her second Grand Slam only, only her first main draw. We have to wait and see. I haven't played her myself. We'll see if she wins. It will be interesting to see how she plays. I'm looking forward to that match.

JELENA DOKIC: I don't know. I haven't watched her. I mean, I think she hits the ball well. I think until you actually watch her properly or play her, you have to see what she does. I don't know her that well. I mean, she's only been out for a few months. I haven't seen her play, so I don't know.

JELENA DOKIC: What?

JELENA DOKIC: No. I mean, it's something -- Olympics are a longway away. It's two weeks before the US Open next year. First of all, it might not be a good idea to go to Europe and play that, come back for a Grand Slam. I will see. I mean, I will think about that. I definitely didn't think who I'm going to play for. I haven't talked about that. I haven't made any comments about that.

JELENA DOKIC: I mean, I'm not playing the Olympics right now. I play for my country, and that's all. I don't have to train with any team, neither do I have to make up my mind who I want to play for until I want to play and if I want to play. This is an individual sport. It has nothing to do with teams or countries. I play for who I play. I'm out there playing by myself. I don't think it really matters which country you play for, as long as you play yourself.