Jelena Kuti-kisses Aussie chances goodbye
^{By Alain Desmier - January 18 2000}

1 am London- With an aching head and a body telling me I need more sleep I stumble out of bed and turn the alarm to the off setting. It took me a while to work out what I was doing up so early, but the copy of the first days schedule for the Aussie open lying on my desk soon reminded me.

Downstairs in my living room, I switched the TV on hoping that I hadn’t missed any of this oh so crucial match for Jelena and found that Henman was involved in an epic battle to stay in the Aussie draw. 2 Hour’s later Henman had won and the delightful Jelena Dokic appeared accompanied by her opponent, Rita Kuti Kis. This match was never going to be easy, Miss Kuti Kis, ranked 86 had nothing to fear and everything to gain. The Aussie crowd wanted Jelena to deliver and they would expect nothing less. The two players both made their Grand slam debut’s last year, however Rita had never won a Grand slam match, where Jelena has won quite a few.

Why then did Jelena find herself 0-5 down and Rita hardly looking as if she had to do any work? Jelena’s first service game gave a grim indication of what was to come. Jelena, serving for the game hits 3 double faults, and hands a 2-0 lead to Rita. Jelena chose to receive first, which meant she must have been confident about breaking her opponent’s quite weak serve, and yet time and time again, Jelena just put the ball straight into the net without even a hint of pressure. An observation I made was that Jelena was trying to play match-winning shots where Rita was just content to get on with it and not make a fuss. Then Jelena produced one of her finest ever shots in the 6th game, and although it was really too late for a comeback the pressure was good.

If Jelena’s ranking were to be based on the second set alone, she would be no. 1, and that is me being deadly serious. She played some quite outstanding tennis, with shots that would beat even the Great Miss Graf at her best. I really began to think that if Jelena could play like this the Grand slam wasn’t so far away after all. 6-2, and I had every confidence that Jelena would finish her opponent off, I even scribbled down some titles for my winning report, 'Jelena wins after stuttering start' and so on.

I got up from my seat and made myself a cup of coffee, I was ready to watch Jelena stroll past and then I could go to bed.

When Rita broke Jelena’s serve I was worried, when Rita held serve I was increasingly anxious, when Rita went 4-1 up I was suicidal! What was happening, why did Jelena seem incapable to return the ball to the other side of the net? At 4-1 down Jelena tactically or not, took a toilet break. She then vitally won the next two games, and the 2nd round came back into view, only for it to be blasted back out again 6-3.

Now, Rita Kuti Kis, is an average player, by no means anything special. She has a weak serve, and no real big shot she can call on. She is however a hard worker and consistent. She may reach the 3rd round if shes lucky but no more than that. So why was she able to beat Jele-baby?

Consistency and being mature, that’s why. Only when Jelena put Rita under massive pressure in the 2nd did she buckle, if Jelena has spent more time making sure the ball would go in the other side of the court and less time trying to play sensational shots I am sure she would have eased past Rita. Sensational shot are great to watch if they work, and as a player you can’t have them working one set and not the other. Also there were some very questionable line calls in the match, but the umpire is the umpire, and he or she makes the final decision and no matter how you argue they aren’t going to change their minds. Arguing helps no one, especially yourself. Also always be a good sports woman not shaking the umpires hand is going to make Jelena few friends.

In reflection, Jelena played some magnificent tennis here and really should have won, maybe not winning will give her and her father a wake up call and hire a proper coach.

Very best Wishes,

Alain
adesmier@hotmail.com
www.jelena-dokic.com

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