WIMBLEDON

June 30, 2000

Jelena Dokic

MODERATOR: Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have Jelena Dokic. Can I just say prior to the start that we're answering questions on tennis matters only. Can we keep questions to tennis-related matters? Who would like to start?

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. You know, we started playing at the beginning of this year. All the tournaments we've played, we've done really well, getting our doubles rankings up. I think we combined very well. We've had some good wins. We've really played well in this tournament.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I had a great tournament last year, obviously. I like playing on grass. It suits my game, I think, as well. You know, coming into this year, a year later - like I said, I really like this tournament and the surface, you know - I think I'm a better player than I was last year. Hopefully I'll do as well, and maybe even better.

JELENA DOKIC: No. You know, I played very well yesterday. I think even the first match, you know, I played very well. I feel really good on the court. In singles and doubles, I think doubles also helps my singles game, as well. Like I said, we played really well today and got through.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I think, if you're going to be a top player, you'll have to defend points week in, week out. That's something you've got to get used to. I'm still in the tournament and doing well. I think I can do as well as I did last year. Hopefully I'll defend those points. If I don't, you know, I've got a lot of tournaments to go until the end of the year. The last couple tournaments, I've been playing very well, had some really good results. I feel confident.

JELENA DOKIC: I just said I think I'm a better player than I was last year, a year older. I feel really good out there at the moment. You know, I've worked a lot on my game, on everything, especially coming into the grass tournaments. I've been working a lot on the grass, getting ready.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I've said this many times. I have a great relationship with my dad. Him going to tournaments with me, he's always been with me in tennis, a big influence. I like having him around. Doesn't bother me at all.

JELENA DOKIC: I said to you, I played really well yesterday and got through, which is the main thing for me, the most important. My dad is a big influence on me and my tennis. He knows my game more than anybody else. He knows me more than anybody else. I like having him around. He's somebody that I can work with. He's on the court always with me. We do things together.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. I think, you know, parents and the family is the biggest support you can have. Especially if somebody like that is involved in your game like he is. If somebody like that watches your matches, it means a lot. I think any support you can get is huge.

JELENA DOKIC: I am a little bit superstitious. Like I said, I had a really good tournament here last year. I played really well here. I really liked this tournament. It's worked so far. Hopefully it will continue.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I was actually. Even yesterday, my singles match, a lot of people around. I get a lot of support from the people outside. It feels great to have all those people support you. It was huge today. Everywhere you looked, there were people supporting us. That's something, you know, that sort of gets you up in matches, helps you a lot. I think I had a really tight first set there yesterday. They helped me through it.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I think it's something that every player has to deal with, especially if you're at the top. I've always liked the hype, being in the centre of everything. I don't seem to have a problem with it.

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said, we started playing at the beginning of this year. We're just concentrating on playing doubles together. I think also in our doubles game, we've come a long way, are playing very well. I think we help each other out, as well, on the court. I think we combine very well.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. I mean, I think I can say that. I think we get along very well.

JELENA DOKIC: Well, I think for me also it's better; the more tennis I play, the better it is. I think I'm a confidence player. Like I said, playing doubles also helps you in your singles game. Whether it's singles, doubles, or mixed, the more matches I play, the better it is for me. Whether it's, you know, doubles or mixed, it helps me a lot in my singles, as well.

JELENA DOKIC: I think Centre Court at Wimbledon. It's great to come out on a court like that. I think it's normal to have nerves, you know, going out onto a court like that. I know I played there last year, No. 1 court, as well. You come out of the court, all those people clapping and everything. It feels great. I get rid of the nerves very quickly. I don't think I get nervous on the big occasions.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, definitely. I think it's one thing to work on your game; it's another to be mentally tough. I've never had that problem, especially in matches I think I've got good concentration. I think I'm mentally quite tough. But it's something that, you know, can be worked on. I don't think I have a problem with it.

JELENA DOKIC: I think after I did really well here last year, I think people expected me to do as well as that everywhere else. It's hard to do that. I've played some matches where, you know, I lost to some very tough opponents in tough matches. You know, you've got to get past that. I also could have won those matches. Then you would have said, "She's done very well." You won't always win matches like that. You know, I've tried to learn from that. I think I've come a long way because, you know, I've tried to work on the things that didn't go well in matches. That's what I'm concentrating on. I think eventually it will work out like it has been in the last five or six months.

JELENA DOKIC: I haven't. I know a lot of seeds have gone out in the draw, both the top half and the bottom. It's always wide open. I've just looked past the next round, I know who I play. That's the most important thing for me. If I get past that round, you know, I'll look on to the next one. You know, the draw is open, but you can't get too excited about it because every match is tough in a Grand Slam.

JELENA DOKIC: I think it was a tough loss for me, probably the one I thought I could have got through, probably wasn't as satisfied with my game. I didn't think I played as well as I could have. Again, you've got to get past that and go on. I've played very well here this week. You know, if I continue, I'll be happy because I think I can get through. You know, you won't always have weeks where you'll play really well. I think emotionally I feel very good this week and confident.

JELENA DOKIC: Like I said, he does everything pretty much. You know, he's on the court with me. You know, he knows me better than anybody else. I need somebody like that, who knows me, knows my game, can help me with it. You know, no matter who I'm working with, he's a hundred percent there on the court, looks after what I'm doing.

JELENA DOKIC: I think I push myself more than anybody else. I work hard, work on everything. I think I've been taught to do that, as well. I don't think I can go any other way but working hard. He's like that, as well. Whether it's a practise court or a match, I give 110% everywhere. I think that's just the way I am.