TMS - ROME

May 20, 2001

Jelena Dokic

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, definitely. I mean it's no small title either, so to have it as my first one is great, and hopefully not the last one. I don't think it's sunk in yet. I don't think just getting to the semis hasn't either, but especially to win. I think it's going to take a few days, and, you know, it was -- I mean to come through and, you know, I've played well the whole week and just I was mentally tough as well. Also to beat Amelie, who's -- I mean she's got the best record this year, and she's played well is, you know, is very satisfying.

JELENA DOKIC: I think my biggest problem was patience. I think, you know, I was trying to finish off points too quickly which doesn't work on clay. I don't think I was physically as strong as I am now, so I think that's, I mean that's a big -- that's two very big things that, you know, you need to be good at on clay. So I think that's where I've improved, and that's why I'm winning more matches on clay.

JELENA DOKIC: No, no. I mean I think I'm moving fine. Especially, I got a lot of balls today and it's hard against Amelie. She hits the ball very hard, very flat. You never know what she's going to do.

JELENA DOKIC: I think going into the match she was a big favorite to win, and I think when it was very close in the first set, I think that probably got her confidence down a little bit and I was sort of up. As soon as I won the first set, I think that's what won me the match. I think I started to play even better and she sort of went down a little bit. And I think in a match like this, I think the first set was very important for me and also for her. And I think you could see a big difference with her attitude also in the second, and, you know, my confidence just grew more and more. And I think, you know, I kept on serving well and kept the pressure on on my service games.

JELENA DOKIC: Oh, she needed it. I think she did. I mean, a fifth title wouldn't have -- I think she was, you know, she wanted it but I think -- I think when I won that first set, I think that made a big difference and maybe she sort thought, you know, "Maybe I won't win this one." And, you know, I was very -- I wanted this title, and I think when I won the first set, I think, you know, I wanted it even more and I started to play better, too. And I was just out there every point whether I won it or lost it, and I think that made a difference. I was always there.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I think it started in the first set, so anything could have happened. But it was starting to rain a bit harder at 4-1 in the second. You got to try and not worry about it a little bit, but then you sort of want to finish the match as soon as you can, if you can. So -- but I don't think -- I don't think I was too worried with the rain.

JELENA DOKIC: That was big, because it sort of got me up there, you know. You know, I got my ranking up, and it was, you know, a good start for me. But I think this is -- this is a lot different because I've been up there. And to win a big title is -- and to beat some good players in it, I don't think it ranks -- I don't think it's anywhere near anything that I've done so far.

JELENA DOKIC: So far, yes. I think it's -- you know, I think I'm a little bit tired from this week, but I, you know, it will still be good to get a few matches no matter what happens there. And I'm gonna try and go and play. It's still important to play another tournament, and, you know, just continue the form I've been in until the French Open and see what happens.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, little bit. I think you get used to it, but still it's a huge weapon. I think even though I played more to her backhand, I think it's -- I think it gave me more chances to open up the court and I started to read a little better, and it's a huge shot for her and she has a lot of spin on it, too. But I got used to it, I think, as the match went on, you know, I got better and better at it.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, my goal for the year was Top 15, and I think I'll be 17 next week. There is points to defend, but I think there's also points to gain, and, you know, right now maybe, you know, I always set up goals as I go along so, you know, Top 10's not very far away. I think this was the biggest hurdle for me. I've been in the Top 30, Top 25 for a while, and I think there's a big difference to get from 25 into, you know, Top 20, and I think things will hopefully get easier now.

JELENA DOKIC: I didn't see it, no.

JELENA DOKIC: But I didn't feel like singing in the last game until it was finished. I still had to serve it out, and at 40-15 in that double-fault, I wasn't singing, so... (Laughter.)

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, probably. I don't know. I think -- but I was glad that I finished, and the next one I played a good point. And I was singing after - after that.

JELENA DOKIC: (Smiling.)

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, hopefully I'm on the way. You know, it's not on my mind right now. I think winning a title was the first thing, then win a bigger one. I think this is a pretty big one for me. Then try and get my ranking up there. But I think, you know, I think a lot of players are going out, some are coming in, younger ones, new ones. So I think, you know, I think I definitely have a chance. I mean, I've beaten a lot of the top players, which is one thing to, you know, winning a Grand Slam. So I think hopefully it's only a matter of time, but it's not something that's on my mind right now. I think it's just improving my game like I have been.