2011 Australian Open wild card event; Jelena Dokic advances into the final
The 27-year-old Jelena Dokic of Australia made her way into the final of the 2011 Australian Open wild card tournament after posting a two setter victory over Alicia Molik on Saturday. The final match score was 6-3, 6-1. Jelena, as a result of this victory,
will take on Olivia Rogowska in the finals on Sunday.
Former world number four, who made her debut on the WTA tour, back in 1998, showed superior form to break her opponent on two occasions during the opening set before taking it 6-3 in the end. The semi-final match between Alicia Molik and Jelena Dokic, despite
of starting late than the actual time, was further interrupted by rain in the decisive set when Jelena was up at 2-1.
As the match resumed, Molik dropped the serve to go down at 1-3. Jelena displayed the kind of form when she won this competition previously and back in 2009 where she reached the quarters before bundling out of the event. Her backhand in particular was punishing
as she blasted numerous winners to cruise past her opponent.
Jelena’s only hiccup came in when serving for the battle, conceding a total of two double faults which took it to deuce before the Monte Carlo resident eventually emerged victorious.
The professional tennis player from Australia, who is currently ranked number 137 in the world, while commenting on the rain after the match said that it made the conditions harder for her.
"She is difficult to play against because she mixes her game up. We have known each other for fifteen years, practiced so much...in Fed Cup, juniors and know each other so well,” the Australian said of her opponent after the match.
Molik, on the other hand, still hopes that her Australian Open qualification is not impossible and she will do anything to make it into the main draw of the year’s opening Grand Slam, which will be held in Melbourne next month.
"She is just too good a player. It was not a great day,” lamented Molik after her loss on Saturday.
In the men’s action, the number one seed Peter Luczak is scheduled to meet Matthew Ebden, whereas, second seed Marinko Matosevic will face Adam Feeney in other semi-final match later in the day.
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