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Post by Brinyi on Nov 30, 2007 12:01:56 GMT -5
Dokic, Philippoussis play off for Aussie Open wild cards
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 05:11pm (Mla time) 11/30/2007
MELBOURNE -- Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic has signed on to play off for an Australian Open wild card into next January's grand slam event, Tennis Australia said Friday.
The one-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, who has played just one match in 12 months, will not be a direct entrant into the Open field and will rely on getting a wild card into main women's singles draw.
Two-time grand slam finalist Mark Philippoussis, 31, will likely use his protected ranking of 119 in the world in order to ensure direct acceptance into the men's play-off, which will run from December 15-21 at Melbourne Park.
Dokic, 24, said she was looking forward to the possibility of competing in the play-off.
"I am very happy with my progress. I'm training several times every day and my fitness level has improved substantially," Dokic said in a statement Friday.
“The playoff is a chance to earn a spot in the field for the Australian Open and that is my end goal this summer,” said Dokic.
"I am very excited about the summer ahead and looking to play as many matches as I can before the Australian Open. That will include, if I can, trying to play in WTA tournaments on the Gold Coast and in Hobart."
The winner of the playoffs is awarded a main draw wildcard into the Australian Open.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Nov 30, 2007 18:29:41 GMT -5
Oooh, go Jelena! Crazy to think she's still just 24 years old. I saw a video of her practicing a couple months ago and she had definitely gained weight. Hopefully in her intense training she's back to a better size that will allow her to compete. I remember a couple years ago (believe it was '05) she was hitting the ball well and would win the first set but then fold after choking in the 2nd. Come on babe, we all want o hear your sneeze grunt one more time.
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Post by janie on Nov 30, 2007 20:15:19 GMT -5
Over a week ago I read that she had already lost 6 kilos/13 pounds. But even if she's a lot trimmer, I bet she'll be spraying balls everywhere. And choking. I wonder if Gold Coast or Hobart would really grant her a QWC; why should they? She has no ranking and zero matches under her belt; how does she deserve WTA WCs? She and Lucic and Stevenson should all be thrown into a boxing ring to duke it out -- the winner gets Q WCs everywhere all year, and the other two have to retire and stay out of the news till 2009. Go Jelena!  |
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Nov 30, 2007 20:31:21 GMT -5
Because I believe Australia still likes Jelena, and wants to see her return. And because she's a former world #4, that should still count for something. I don't think Tennis Australia has as many bad feelings to Jelena as they do to her father. Seems like she's much more of an independent gal these days.
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Post by janie on Dec 1, 2007 17:36:49 GMT -5
new pic:  |
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Dec 1, 2007 17:49:42 GMT -5
God, she's white.
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 3, 2007 10:33:42 GMT -5
Determined Dokic enters Open playoff
3/12/2007 3:47:03 PM
Sportal
Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic will try and earn a spot in the main draw of the Australian Open by winning a 16-player playoff later this month.
All Australian players ranked inside the world's top 250 players will receive an automatic entry into the playoff, but Dokic, who is now ranked 9999th in the world, had to sign on for the playoff and receive a wildcard position.
The winner of the playoff will receive an entry into the main draw of the Australian Open, and Dokic is hoping that she can revive her career through the event.
"I am very happy with my progress. I'm training several times every day and my fitness level has improved substantially," she said.
"The play-off is a chance to earn a spot in the field for the Australian Open and that is my end goal this summer."
"I am very excited about the summer ahead and looking to play as many matches as I can before the Australian Open. That will include, if I can, trying to play on the Gold Coast and in Hobart."
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley was pleased that Dokic had signed on to play the event.
"It's great to know Jelena is eager to get back competing," he said. "She has been training hard and progressing well."
"The field is going to include a great mix of players, which will amount to exciting tennis."
The playoff commences at Melbourne Park on December 15 and runs through to December 21.
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Post by sasha on Dec 3, 2007 11:18:22 GMT -5
A reputable source put 9999th in the world. Hehe!
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Dec 3, 2007 22:16:47 GMT -5
Her boobs are still great!
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 4, 2007 14:44:47 GMT -5
Adopted Aussie heads field at Open playoffs
Bruce Matthews
December 05, 2007 12:00am
ADOPTED Slovak tennis player Jarmila Gajdosova will continue her Aussie education among other Australian Open hopefuls at Melbourne Park this month.
Gajdosova will be top seed in the 16-player women's draw to playoff for a wildcard into the first grand slam of 2008.
And the hard-hitting 20-year-old may know as early as this week whether she can represent Australia in next years' Fed Cup competition.
Gajdosova, the world No. 142, is the leading direct entry into the women's field for the wildcard playoffs from December 15-21.
Ranked a career-high 64 in September last year after reaching the US Open third round, Gajdosova approached Tennis Australia two years ago to become an Australian and was awarded resident status a couple of months ago.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley believes Gajdosova has a big future.
"She's a very good player. She has a big game, is a good athlete and she will be an asset for Australian tennis," Tiley said.
"She has been great hitting with the younger girls. And she will continue to raise the bar in women's tennis.
"It was her choice. There was no active recruitment on Tennis Australia's part and we haven't funded her at all.
"She can represent Australia now because she's a resident and has applied for citizenship and is working with our coaches.
"It's just a matter of course for her to be approved by the ITF (International Tennis Federation). It could take a day or a week or a month, but we're expecting to hear soon."
New South Wales pair Monique Adamczak and Sophie Ferguson and Victoria's Christina Wheeler also have singles rankings high enough for direct entry to the playoff draw, while Jelena Dokic, Jessica Moore (WA), Karolina Wlodarczak (Vic) and Daniella Dominikovic (NSW) were offered wildcards.
Under the selection policy, players ranked in the world's top 250 were accepted into the playoffs.
Mark Philippoussis headed the list of five direct entrants into the men's playoff draw.
The two-time grand slam finalist was joined by Robert Smeets (Qld), Alun Jones (ACT), Joe Sirianni (Vic) and Nick Lindahl (NSW).
Wildcards were awarded to Nathan Healey (NSW), Andrew Coelho (Vic), Samuel Groth (Vic), Carsten Ball (NSW) and 18-year-olds Greg Jones (NSW) and Brydan Klein (WA).
The last five places in the men's draw and final eight for the women's draw will be announced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Lleyton Hewitt is expected to test the new Plexicushion courts at Melbourne Park in the next two weeks.
Chris Guccione and Alicia Molik are among local players to give the hardcourt surface the thumbs up.
"We'll get more feedback as the international players start coming out in the next few weeks," Tiley said.
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Post by DBBN on Dec 4, 2007 18:10:43 GMT -5
Yeah, Jarka's ranking has really skyrocketed in the last year.  |
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Post by janie on Dec 9, 2007 11:42:02 GMT -5
Still, she's a lot better player than the rest of this field.
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Post by DBBN on Dec 9, 2007 12:05:27 GMT -5
I know, but if they're hoping for a wunderkind...keep looking.
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Post by freudo on Dec 9, 2007 19:01:20 GMT -5
that must be a mistake, there aren't 9999 tennis player in the pros!
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Post by janie on Dec 11, 2007 20:28:24 GMT -5
Yeah, I read that they give her that 9999 as an arbitrary number, since she's unranked. That way they don't have to figure out exactly, like 1,076 or whatever would be right below the lowest ranked player. Hey, I guess that means we're all ranked 9999, too.  |
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Post by freudo on Dec 12, 2007 8:09:29 GMT -5
"Hey, I guess that means we're all ranked 9999, too. " ...and mighty proud of it |
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Post by Wagasi on Dec 12, 2007 15:44:28 GMT -5
Woohoo, never thought I'd see the day when I'd achieve the same tennis level as Jelena Dokic  |
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Dec 14, 2007 20:36:04 GMT -5
I hope Jelena loses in the WC playoff, and she's given a qualifying WC instead. It would probably do her more good.
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Post by freudo on Dec 15, 2007 7:13:53 GMT -5
I hope she wins |
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Post by corswandt on Dec 15, 2007 10:06:20 GMT -5
Dokic (#9999) d. Hubacek (#789) 7-6, 6-0
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Dec 15, 2007 22:39:37 GMT -5
Dokic def. Wheeler 3-6 7-6 (0) 6-3.
That's a nice win.
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Post by freudo on Dec 16, 2007 7:45:40 GMT -5
Go Dokic!!!
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Post by janie on Dec 16, 2007 8:03:08 GMT -5
Wow, that is a good win for Jelena! I especially like seeing that 7-6(0) part. Well done!
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Post by janie on Dec 16, 2007 16:36:54 GMT -5
Scud crash lands, Dokic wins againDecember 16, 2007 - 8:25PM Mark Philippoussis' Australian Open hopes have hit a snag after he lost to world No.341 Samuel Groth in the tournament's wildcard play-off. 
Groth, 20, posted the biggest win of his career, 6-4 6-3, in both players' second match of the round robin format. The young New South Welshman broke Philippoussis in the tenth game of the first set and then broke in the second set to lead 4-2. Philippoussis broke back, but Groth secured another break and then served out the match. At 194cm tall, Groth was more than able to match Philippoussis for power, and he served more aces in the one hour, 30 minute contest. Starting the year ranked 686th in the world, some strong Challenger series results have seen Groth improve his ranking to its current mark of 341. The play-off looms as probably 31-year-old Philippoussis' only path into the Open's main draw, given Tennis Australia has indicated it will favour younger players with their discretionary wildcards. The top two players from each group in the play-off progress to the quarter-finals, with the eventual tournament winner to receive a wildcard into the Australian Open main draw. Philippoussis hasn't played an ATP event since injuring his knee in January but took part in an over-30s event in October. In the women's play-off, Jelena Dokic scored a second victory, winning a tough three-set match against experienced Victorian Christina Wheeler 3-6 7-6(7-0) 6-3. The two wins mean Dokic has already booked her place in the quarter-finals.
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Post by janie on Dec 16, 2007 20:03:56 GMT -5
Playoff rr, r3: Dokic def. Wlodarczak 62 26 64 But I bet she's getting pretty  by now ... |
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Post by janie on Dec 19, 2007 8:36:35 GMT -5
Dokic retired w/ thigh strain in her QF match. Poo withdroo.
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Post by sasha on Dec 19, 2007 9:10:34 GMT -5
I'm surprised Poo even played. He obviously wasn't ready in his Dinosaur Tour event in Dallas.
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