WIMBLEDON

June 28, 2002

Jelena Dokic

JELENA DOKIC: It's a difficult match. She's not easy to play against. She played well in the first set to come back. You know, every time I had a set point, she got a let cord. I couldn't do much there. You know, she played well to come back. After 5-All, I lifted my game up a little bit more. I was a lot happier today than the other day.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, it was difficult, because I knew I had chances. But on some of them she got let cords and she played some good points. When you get to 5-All, I was a little bit down, which is normal, because I had 5-2. You know, it was important to win my serve there and then I broke her. You know, I was back on top again. You know, I was actually happy because I kept on playing. Even though I knew I should have won that first set easier, sometimes that can get you down and can you lose that set. But I was happy with the way I handled it.

JELENA DOKIC: It's not bad. I'm not playing bad. I'm happy. I've gotten better with every match. Today was a tougher one for me, so to win it in straight sets is great. You know, hopefully I can keep on going.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I mean, we're out there to play tennis. Everything else, you know, is a bonus. You know, if someone thinks you look good, that's great. But I think the main thing is, you know, we're not out there -- we're both going to go out there and compete and try to beat each other, so... All the rest, if you can be attractive and look good and people think that, that's great.

JELENA DOKIC: I've had good courts. Court 2 or Court 3 I played on the first match, Court 18. They're all show courts. I was actually surprised that I was on Centre Court. You know, but I've done well here, so it was good to be back on Centre. It's a great court.

JELENA DOKIC: It was great.

JELENA DOKIC: My dad is doing all that. I am in a legal situation right now with Octagon in court. But my dad is handling everything.

JELENA DOKIC: You would have to talk to my dad about that. There were a lot of problems I had with a lot of people, so it's just to do it the legal way.

JELENA DOKIC: I worked a lot with my dad. So even when he's not here, you know, I talk to him during the day a lot. I know what I have to do. I've gotten used to that. But I know a lot of the players, and so does he. So we talk about matches and what I have to do. It's been good the way it is right now.

JELENA DOKIC: Not really. I practice with a lot of players. You know, you have to get used to that. A lot of practice sessions, so you practice with everyone.

JELENA DOKIC: You know, I've had a lot of coaches.

JELENA DOKIC: I'm going to judge that, not you. You know, I had a lot of help from them. I'm not saying I didn't. It was great while it lasted. You know, it helped me. I'm not saying it didn't. I got a lot of help from them. I learned a lot, especially the last coach that I had, Tony. You know, I made a lot of improvement there.

JELENA DOKIC: You know she hits hard. She has a good serve. But I think if I'm fit, if I play well, I give myself a good chance. Just depending, you know, she can be hot and cold. She can be up and down. You just have to take advantage of that. I just have to keep the ball in play and see what happens.

JELENA DOKIC: Next match is important for me to get through, and I'll be very happy if I get through it and get to the quarters, and then I'll look forward. But I think the next one, you know, is very important for me. I think if I play well, I have a good chance to win. I really want to win the next match, so I'm just focusing on that.

JELENA DOKIC: If I wasn't a tennis player, you wouldn't be talking to me right now. So why don't you think of a question that is your business, and you can ask me that.

JELENA DOKIC: No. He's home with my dad.

JELENA DOKIC: And my fitness trainer.

JELENA DOKIC: Mike.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. I mean, you have to get used to that. You know, as a tennis player, you do a lot of media, a lot of questions get thrown at you, but that's normal and you have to deal with that. I've dealt with a lot of that already. You know, it's normal, especially if you get to be in the Top 10 or Top 5, that's what happens. You know, you have to get used to answering those questions.

JELENA DOKIC: I think so, yeah. He has some other things that he's doing right now, so I think, you know, it would be up to him. I'm sure he will travel again, no doubt about that. You know, I'm sure you'll see him back.

JELENA DOKIC: That's true. I think tennis is very competitive right now. We're competing for a lot out there. You know, it's a lot more than selfish that you have to be. You know, it's tough to survive. Everyone wants to beat everyone. So, I mean, I would agree with that.

JELENA DOKIC: No. I think when you're on the court, that's different. Off the court -- I'm a different person from on the court and off the court. You know, you just have to change your mind, the way you think - on the court, be aggressive, you know, or serious, whatever. But, you know, I don't think -- you know, some people are like that off the court, as well. But I don't think I'm like that. As long as you can do it on the court...

JELENA DOKIC: I think Martina is a perfect example. You know, she didn't have the power. But you have to try -- you know, players that don't have power have something else. They've dominated the tennis the last couple years, and tennis really has gotten a lot stronger and quicker. I think a lot of players have gotten physically stronger, too. You know, it's hard to play against them, but you just have to go out there and, you know, chase every ball, you know, hope that you have a good day. You know, we've seen players upset them. You know, there's not much you can do. You just have to hang in there.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I'm definitely a person that agrees, you know, parents are definitely underestimated. You know, you have -- out of the Top 10, you have so many players that are coached by their parents. You have so many top players that would be following their daughters and sons not even in tennis. So I think that has nothing to do with that. I think we've seen a lot of examples where parents have been coaches. I think Venus and Serena are a perfect example. They're No. 1 and 2 in the world. No one can complain.

JELENA DOKIC: Sometimes it is. But I think maybe, you know, just depends on the individual. But I think last, you know, five years or so, we've seen a lot of parents come into the picture. So I wouldn't say that coaches and academies are exactly the perfect thing to be a top player.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, you never know what's going to happen tomorrow. So I had some decisions to make. You know, I didn't have an easy situation. So I think, you know, I had to go a day at a time. That's what I did. You know, going to Australia and then to America and then back home, I had to do that, and I had no other choice at the time. And I'm happy, you know, with the way everything worked out. You know, I couldn't change that. You know, those are the decisions I had to make. You know, I don't regret them. But, you know, it's not like I planned it 10 years ahead. I just went a day at a time.