Safina Ends Dokic Run At Australian Open
January 27, 2009
The Jelena Dokic – Dinara Safina match was the big event for the night in Australia. It had tennis fans waiting in anticipation to see if the magical run of Dokic would continue. This was a match that could easily fizzle out with a one sided win to Safina.
Dokic did not let us down as she put on another fantastic performance. Unfortunately tonight she came up just short losing to the world no. 3 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Dokic started this match slowly and Safina broke in the opening game. Safina held serve to go out to an early lead. Dokic came back to get a break in the sixth game and level the match at 3-3. For Dokic she was not playing at the top of her game and Safina broke yet again to take a 5-4 lead. Safina served out the next game to love to take the first set.
Going into the second set you had to wonder if Dokic had another comeback left in her. The answer was yes. Dokic got an early break and was 3-0 up. Safina fought her way back after another break. The set saw five break of serve in total. Dokic with three took the set at 6-4. Amazingly Safina served four double faults in one game to hand Dokic the set.
In the third set it was another tough battle. Both players were not giving this one up without a fight. Safina again got an early break to take the upper hand. Dokic would get one back to make the score 4-4. Dokic fought off break points in the ninth game and then held game points but a wild Dokic forehand which went wide saw Safina break to lead 5-4.
The match was now on the line with Safina serving. In years gone by Safina would more often than not let the pressure get to her and was a good bet to drop serve again. Those days have gone and she is now one of the top players in the game.
Dokic was looking good to break back as she smacked a weak second serve down the line for a winner. A shot into the net by Safina saw her fall behind 0-30. The key moment came when a Dokic slice was called out. Safina had missed the shot as it actually skidded off the line. Dokic should have won the point. She successfully challenged the call but that meant a replay.
It could have been 0-40 but instead Safina won the next point to make it 15-30. Dokic did bring up two break points but a penetrating down the line shot by Safina saved one. The next one was saved when Dokic guessed Safina would serve to her forehand. Instead it went to the backhand for a big ace. Another Dokic error brought up match point for the no. 3 seed. That was all it took and the fairytale was over for Dokic as she hit the ball into the net.
Her fantastic run had come to an end. All credit to Safina for fighting to the end. She was not only battling Dokic but the 15 000 strong crowd in the Rod Laver Arena.
What a difference a year makes! Safina was knocked out in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open, now she is just one match from the final. Safina will now face Vera Zvonareva who is the no. 7 seed. She easily defeated Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 6-0. Bartoli was not impressed with having to play in the heat of the day when the other quarterfinal was played in more pleasant conditions at 7.30pm
I now look forward to seeing what Jelena Dokic can follow up with in future tournaments. She will be ranked in the top 100 after her fantastic run at the Australian Open. Can she get back into the top ten? If she continues to play like she did at the Open there is no doubt that she will. A tough ask I know.
Thanks Jelena for the thrilling matches.
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