Jelena Dokic wrote another chapter in her famously troubled career when she made a successful start at the Australian Open despite splitting with her coach just moments earlier.
Dokic, confirmed the parting with Glenn Schaap after subduing Czech player Zuzana Ondraskova 6-3, 6-2.
"Yeah, we split half an hour ago, right before the first change of ends in the second set. Nothing special. No hard feelings, you know," she shrugged.
"There are certain people that suit you for your game and for your personality. This was just not one of them. It was all kind of a test period anyway."
There was some confusion as Dokic was seen making the throat slit gesture after converting a break point with a powerful backhand winner.
"That wasn’t directed at Zuzana. I was just letting Glenn know he was fired. I wasn’t really happy with his body language. I make a lot of unforced errors, you know, and I need a coach that will be there for me."
Schaap was seen making a spirited plea to Dokic during a subsequent change of ends, but she made the talking gesture with her hands and was heard to say ‘This is what you’re doing’, after which she held her hand closed and said ‘This is what I want you to do.’
Schaap subsequently stormed off and was later seen eating an ice cream and getting a shoulder massage from Pat Rafter.
Dokic had been coached by Schaap, formerly with Dinara Safina and Nadia Petrova, since the second set tiebreak of a third round match at the French Open last year.
Dokic is currently ranked 137 but is targeting a return to the top 50. “My other goal this year is to do some more work with Jetstar. It’s quite rewarding, financially.”
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4 comments:
Jelena makes a fair point. A pro athlete needs the right support staff in order to capitalise on the limited time in which they can actually make a living from their sport. Of course this is particularly so in her case. In fact, given the unforced errors, it is amazing she is still in the game. However, the comment about Glenn's body language probably wasn't necessary. It's hardly his fault if he's a hunchback with a wooden leg.
Actually it is his fault, as I understand it - his last pupil, Goran Prpic, bet him 10 Francs he could eat a hotdog while standing on a hotdog. Glenn's poor understanding of his second body language, Croatian, led to his defeat in the bet and not being in possession of the 10 Francs, he opted for a wooden leg and a hunchback instead. Goran was visibly shaken.
I bet you wouldn't pick so horribly on Jelena if she had married Lleyton. She's just a poor, semi-orphaned girl trying to make her way and her mark on the world.
Just because she has never lived in Summer Bay or hasn't married a bloke with a Southern Cross tattoo doesn't mean we shouldn't give her our respect. (for the record 2 double negatives, or four wrongs, do make a right - especially in Jelena's case).
I make a spirited plea for you to consider the following:
Today in a lunchtime bistro, I heard the song, "I think it's amazing. I think you're amazing...dadada dadada..."
I submit that this is an anthemic love song. - cw
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