Tennis Update: Jelena Dokic receives first Brisbane wildcard
The next year is only a few weeks away and the tennis stars are ready to kickoff their new season at the Brisbane International in January.
Confirming her entry as the first wildcard is the 27-year-old Australian, Jelena Dokic. She is the fourth Australian to join the 32 player main draw behind Samantha Stosur, Jarmila Groth and Anastasia Rodionova.
Dokic is confirming her entry for the third year in the season opener, looking to improve her run this time around. Her 2010 appearance in the event was short lived when she lost to Ana Ivanovic by three sets. In 2009, she had
also exited the event in the first round losing to Amelie Mauresmo.
Excited about Dokic playing at the tournament this year, Brisbane International Director, Steve Ayles looks forward to welcome the Australian and expresses complete confidence in her. He said, “Jelena has been a wonderful competitor
in the tournament in recent years and she is a crowd favourite in Brisbane. This will be her third year at the event and I know she will be pushing to return to form in front of an Australian crowd. Jelena is a passionate player and will be a real surprise
card in the draw. When she is playing well she is cable of beating anyone and I am looking forward to seeing what she can bring in January. She's been playing and she's been winning a lot of matches. She's training and she's looking forward to a
great summer. We're just pleased that she's starting it here."
Dokic finished her last season with no title wins and a ranking of 137. Dokic’s 2010 season was plagued by illnesses and injuries. She withdrew from Pattaya City, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur due to migraine. In April, she withdrew from
Fes. She did however win three events in the 2010 ITF Circuit, winning at Contrexeville, Bucharest and Vancouver.
Her run in the 2010 Grand Slams was also not to her liking. She was ousted from the Australian Open in the first round after losing to Alisa Kleybanova. She was also forced to exit the Roland Garros in the first round by seeded
Lucie Safarova. She failed to make it to the Wimbledon Championships and the United States Open, falling in the qualifying round.
Joining Dokic as probable wild card entries will be Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, Daniela Hantuchova and French Gilles Simon.
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