Dokic Exits Amidst Tears at WTA Auckland
Posted on January 3, 2006While Martina Hingis made a successful comeback earlier this week with an opening-year win, another former star's attempted return turned ugly Tuesday -- a sobbing, self-confidence-less mess as newly-nationalized-Aussie Jelena Dokic lost 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-1 in the first round at the WTA stop in Auckland.
Reminiscent of the serving "yips" Anna Kournikova suffered toward the end of her career, Dokic's loss included an almost-unbelievable 28 double faults, including six consecutive.
"I was very scared of playing again because I haven't been in this position for a long time," said Dokic who left the court in tears. "If I could get the nerves away I could have won today and there's nothing to be disappointed about. I wasn't even supposed to -- from where I am at the moment -- even to play close to a girl that was ranked 80 in the world."
Seeded players in the winner's circle Tuesday were (2) Daniela Hantuchova (d. Beygelzimer from a set down), (3) Elena Likhovtseva (d. Morgami in three), (4) Maria Kirilenko (d. Blahotova), (6) Marion Bartoli (d. Loit 6-1 in the third), and (8) Vera Zvonareva (d. Suarez).
Qualifiers went 1-for-4 on the day with the lone winner Israel's (Q) Tzipora Obziler (d. Jackson), with additional unseeded winners in Laura Granville of the U.S. (d. countrywoman (Q) Perry in three), Korean Yoon Jeong Cho (d. Peer), Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi (d. Castano), Spain's Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (d. (7) Asagoe in three), American Jill Craybas (d. countrywoman (Q) Harkleroad from a set down), and Russian Vera Dushevina (d. (Q) Kremer).
Lining up on Wednesday in Auckland are Craybas vs. Hantuchova, Petrova vs. Dushevina, Azarenka vs. Kirilenko, Likhovtseva vs. Schruff, Zvonareva vs. Cho, Brandi vs. Sanchez Lorenzo, Granville vs. Bartoli, and Srebotnik vs. Obziler.
Reminiscent of the serving "yips" Anna Kournikova suffered toward the end of her career, Dokic's loss included an almost-unbelievable 28 double faults, including six consecutive.
"I was very scared of playing again because I haven't been in this position for a long time," said Dokic who left the court in tears. "If I could get the nerves away I could have won today and there's nothing to be disappointed about. I wasn't even supposed to -- from where I am at the moment -- even to play close to a girl that was ranked 80 in the world."
Seeded players in the winner's circle Tuesday were (2) Daniela Hantuchova (d. Beygelzimer from a set down), (3) Elena Likhovtseva (d. Morgami in three), (4) Maria Kirilenko (d. Blahotova), (6) Marion Bartoli (d. Loit 6-1 in the third), and (8) Vera Zvonareva (d. Suarez).
Qualifiers went 1-for-4 on the day with the lone winner Israel's (Q) Tzipora Obziler (d. Jackson), with additional unseeded winners in Laura Granville of the U.S. (d. countrywoman (Q) Perry in three), Korean Yoon Jeong Cho (d. Peer), Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi (d. Castano), Spain's Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (d. (7) Asagoe in three), American Jill Craybas (d. countrywoman (Q) Harkleroad from a set down), and Russian Vera Dushevina (d. (Q) Kremer).
Lining up on Wednesday in Auckland are Craybas vs. Hantuchova, Petrova vs. Dushevina, Azarenka vs. Kirilenko, Likhovtseva vs. Schruff, Zvonareva vs. Cho, Brandi vs. Sanchez Lorenzo, Granville vs. Bartoli, and Srebotnik vs. Obziler.