WIMBLEDON

June 30, 2001

Jelena Dokic

JELENA DOKIC: I'm so relieved to get through that match, you know. I had a great day so far. I didn't even have time to warm up this morning. The transport didn't arrive and I just had enough time to change and go out on the court. So I'm so proud of myself, you know, just on focusing and, you know, playing as well as I did. I just -- I'm glad to get through. You know, it was a good match for me to get through. She's quite highly ranked, too. So it was a good match for me.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I wasn't, you know, we just got a taxi this morning to come because I just needed to get here. I was very disappointed with the transport. I just tried to call and no one did anything. So I just wanted to get here as soon as I can. I tried to call the tournament director, the transport. I'm very disappointed in them. They're really -- really feel like they did a very bad job. If you can't organize something like that, you can't run a tournament. So... I wasn't too happy this morning about that. I think it wasn't a very nice thing, what happened this morning. It was very hard to go out there and play under that, you know.

JELENA DOKIC: Just a car that comes and picks you up every morning. I feel like, you know, the transport and the tournament director didn't do a very good job there. I tried to call them. I was saying half an hour later there was nothing there still. They're really bandits and they really disappointed me this morning.

JELENA DOKIC: Just before the match.

JELENA DOKIC: (Nodding.)

JELENA DOKIC: About ten minutes away.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, a couple years ago. At the Australian Open, actually. Maybe it's just me, it happens everywhere, God. Yeah, but they've been coming every day, half an hour before, so I was really surprised this morning when it happened. And I was really frustrated.

JELENA DOKIC: Nope.

JELENA DOKIC: No. Like I said, I just got here before my match. I couldn't do anything. There was just nothing I could do at that stage. You know, I was just trying to focus on my match.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I think I was all right in the match actually. I tried not to worry about that. There was other things on my mind, too. There was an article in The Mirror this morning that also sort of stood me up a little bit. It was a really nasty article about my dad. And I think, you know, again, I think it's really not funny anymore. I think it was as bad as it could get. So...

JELENA DOKIC: It didn't. I don't think that was the -- I think she played a good game to break me. It was only one break and she started to serve a lot better. So I think next thing, you know, she was at 4-all. Had chances again on my serve at 4-all and 5-all. And I was really -- mentally, I was really good there because I held my serve and made her stay in the match. So I think that was the key.

JELENA DOKIC: I have nothing against anybody. I just think when an article is written like that, like it was this morning, it really isn't doing any good to anybody. It really isn't interesting to read anymore. If they have nothing else to write about, that's really sad then. I was really disappointed with what they wrote, too, like that my dad was gonna try and psych Barbara out on the side of the court. I mean, it's crazy. I think, you know, I think my dad doesn't deserve that. Especially, you know, since he's gotten back on the Tour. You know, I also don't think it was also the news -- I mean, the newspapers that Barbara was advertising. To come on the day of the match wasn't really good. I think also the management company, Octagon, Ivan Brixi, the guy I work with, did a very poor job. We're both from the same management company, playing on the day of the match, it didn't need to be there.

JELENA DOKIC: No, not really.

JELENA DOKIC: I just saw it in the hotel. Everyone was reading it. It was a bit hard not to. It was a very big one, too.

JELENA DOKIC: I read it myself. He read it himself, too.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. I mean, I think it's -- you know, again, like I said, to come on the day of the match, to write something like that, it was just horrendous. Like I said, didn't need to be there. Especially us two playing against each other on the day.

JELENA DOKIC: I'm just happy to get through this week. It was a good week for me so far. I've gotten through to the fourth round. It's anyone's tournament right now. You know, I'm just focusing on the next match. I have a day off now and I'll just focus on that.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, if it didn't affect me today, it's not gonna affect me at all. I think, you know, it was a really good mental test for me. I think I did well.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, for sure. It's a different type of ball game. It's a different player to play, and, you know, she hits will ball a lot bigger, a lot better. We had a very tough match in Australia, also on a fast surface. So it will be interesting, I think. She's just been coming off an injury. I don't know how well she's playing, but probably not as well as, you know, when she's had months and months of matches, which she hasn't. So I'm just gonna focus on my game. I know that, you know, I've played a tough match with her last time and it's gonna help me.

JELENA DOKIC: Yes.

JELENA DOKIC: I have no problem with the people, you know. I think I'm treated very well on the Tour. It's just a few outsiders that you get. I mean, I did nothing to stir this up, you know. I did nothing; neither did my dad. It's really not -- I don't think that's acceptable.