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Dokic safe and hopeful of playing
top tennis again
By Zoran Milosavljevic
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Former world number four on the WTA tour Jelena Dokic
believes she can work her way back into the top 30 after flatly denying recent
suggestions from her father that she had been kidnapped.
In an extensive interview with Belgrade daily Sportski Zurnal, Dokic said: "Of
course I haven't been kidnapped, that's complete nonsense. I have been listening
to such rubbish from my father for the last three years."
She added: "I need to say this to protect my boyfriend, Tin Bikic, because he
has never interfered either with my private life or my tennis. In no way has he
affected my career."
Dokic, 23, is currently ranked 583rd and looking for sponsors to finance her
comeback after earning a total of $3,765,180 in career prize money.
The Croatian-born Dokic moved with her family to Serbia in 1991 during the
conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and then to Australia in 1994 before
returning to Serbia in 2001.
After falling out with her father Damir, who was also her coach, she moved to
Zagreb and hired her boyfriend's brother Borna Bikic to coach her in 2003.
The 23-year old parted company with Bikic after a failed attempt to reinvigorate
her career, plagued by injuries and the long-term conflict with her father.
She has since joined the Munich-based tennis academy of Croatia's Nikola Pilic
and sees it as her last chance to make a comeback.
"My only option is to stay with his academy. I am now in Zagreb looking for
sponsors to finance my comeback attempt," Dokic said, dispelling reports she had
decided to quit.
"I will do everything in my power to go back to the top and I think there is a
chance. I don't know if I can be the world number four again but I am still
young and this is the best time to go for a comeback.
"I feel I can still play top-level tennis and getting back into the top 30 would
satisfy my ambitions. If (France's) Mary Pierce was able to come back at the age
of 30, there is no reason for me not to try at 23."
MONUMENTAL EFFORT
She added: "I know it will take a monumental effort but my private problems, the
bad situation with my parents and injuries have made me stronger, more mature
and determined to succeed."
Dokic won five singles titles after bursting onto the scene with a 6-2 6-0
demolition of top-seeded Martina Hingis in the Wimbledon 1999 first round as an
unseeded qualifier.
Her ordeals that started after she became world number four in August 2002 saw
her plummet to 583 and Dokic believes she will be ready for Grand Slam
tournaments in six months' time.
"I need as many matches as I can get to rebuild my fitness, which is why I will
start with small tournaments with up to $25,000 in prize money. I thought about
taking part in the upcoming Australian Open but changed my mind."
"I need up to six months to regain my fitness and stamina so my first priority
is to keep working hard before I start playing again on January 15."
Dokic left no room four doubt just how painful and devastating the rift with her
family has been.
"I don't speak to my father at all any more. I rarely talk to my mum too, over
the phone. And we never discuss business or tennis."
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