PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

March 9, 2002

Jelena Dokic

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah, I didn't play that well in the first set. I didn't move that well either. It was a little bit difficult to get used to the conditions and the court. It's a little bit slower. And I haven't played a match outdoors for like six months. And she's tough to play against for a first round. You know, I was happy that I got my rhythm back in the second set, and then the third. You know, I was a little bit too defensive in the first set.

JELENA DOKIC: It is. She hit some unbelievable returns off the backhand. You know, when you're not playing so well, that's tough. You know, she's so tall. Her serve is a little bit strange also. She's one of those players that doesn't give you very much rhythm. But I was happy the way I turned it around.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah. I tore my adductor in Paris, and I didn't play the final. Then I went to Antwerp, tried to play, but I wasn't physically good to play. Then I had to have a few weeks off. That's about it.

JELENA DOKIC: I feel good, yeah. It's about 95. I'm not going to say it's a hundred. First match back is always a little bit tough. I don't have that much confidence with my leg right now. But it was really good. I moved well. You know, I was happy with it.

JELENA DOKIC: I had a few months off. I didn't do anything because I played a lot last year. I just had a long break, which I think I needed, because the year is so long. Then I started to train again in January. But, you know, it was something I needed. I felt really good after it.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah.

JELENA DOKIC: No.

JELENA DOKIC: No, nothing.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah.

JELENA DOKIC: It wasn't too tough actually. I recover quickly, though. Physically it took me about a week or two to come back. You know, it was really good.

JELENA DOKIC: I did, you know. I love to play. I missed competing and playing matches. It's tough to come back, though, after such a long break. I was glad I had the break, but then I was glad to come back again.

JELENA DOKIC: No, I wouldn't say I was burned out, but I think I would have been if I didn't take the break, I think physically and mentally. I think I needed it before it happened. You can't go on playing months and months and months without having any break. I think it's impossible.

JELENA DOKIC: Yeah.

JELENA DOKIC: I did. You know, I played so well after US Open, I played a lot. I thought -- you know, I was doing well. It felt good to play that much. Then I took the break. I think it evened out a little bit.

JELENA DOKIC: I did. I almost thought I wasn't a tennis player any more (smiling). I didn't do anything. It was so weird not to have a racquet in my hand. On the other hand, felt really good. I did so many other things. You know, I didn't think about tennis at all. That's why I was glad to come back again.

JELENA DOKIC: I went to the mountains, I went skiing, I was on the beach after that. You know, I did everything - everything I wouldn't do when I play and when I'm on the tour.

JELENA DOKIC: I think my goal is to try and play as well as -- as well as I did last year, because I had a very good year last year. You know, it's going to be very tough to stay where I got to, Top 10. My goal is to get into the Top 5. But I think you see so many players getting to the Top 10 or Top 5 and then dropping back really quickly. My goal is not to let that happen. You know, I had a good start to the year. I beat Monica, who I haven't beaten in so many times we've played. But I think my goal is just to play well and keep improving on some of the things that I need to work on.

JELENA DOKIC: I think my game just needs to be consistent. I need to work on my serve a little bit. I think it's gotten a little bit better. But other than that, I think I've gotten a lot stronger physically and mentally last year. I think that was an important step for me last year. That's what I was missing the few years before that. I think I'm a lot more mature now than when I came on the tour at 14. I think that makes a big difference.

JELENA DOKIC: I think I've gotten used to it a little bit. We have such a long schedule. There's not really that much time that you can take off. There's not a big difference in the rankings either, so you've got to try and play as much as you can but have a break also. You've just got to -- I've tried to work on my schedule really hard to try to see where I can have some time off and where I really need to play.

JELENA DOKIC: Oh, I think I'm a lot better. You know, like I said, mentally and physically, I've had a big improvement last year. I think that's really helped my game to get from, you know, Top 30 to Top 10. It makes a huge difference. I think, you know, I have a lot more experience now. I'm just doing things a lot more professionally on court now.