Dokic suddenly opting for Olympics
^{Copyright © 2000 Nando Media and
Copyright © 2000 Agence France-Press, February 22 2000}

Australian tennis women's No. 1 Jelena Dokic changed her mind Tuesday and said she would play in the Olympics in September.

Eight days ago the 16-year-old said she would boycott the Games in revenge for an article in a Melbourne newspaper.

But on Tuesday she said in a statement her annoyance over the article, which appeared during the Australian Open, was not worth denying herself the opportunity to play in her hometown Olympics.

"I'm obviously upset with the Melbourne Herald Sun, but I shouldn't have directed this frustration at the Olympic Games," the statement said.

Last week she said she felt "betrayed."

"I didn't feel like I was supported, no one got behind me, and that really hurt me. I feel betrayed, ruined," she said then.

The Herald Sun newspaper claimed she told it after crashing out in the first round of the Australian Open in January to Hungarian Rita Kuti Kis the draw was always rigged against her because tennis officials did not like her father.

She said last week her family, particularly her much criticized father, Damir, were her greatest supporters.

"Everything has been blown out of proportion about my dad. There have been all sorts of stories about him. I've heard rumors that he was beating me, but it's all lies.

"I have a very close relationship with my dad because he's always been there for me.

"I trust my dad more than anyone and there's no one I can rely on more than him."

Dokic still says winning Wimbledon is her dream.

She made her name by knocking out top seed Martina Hingis in the first round of last year's Wimbledon.

Dokic is on her way to Mexico where she will play Steffi Graf in an exhibition match before heading to John Newcombe's Texas tennis ranch for a training camp to prepare for her next WTA tour event, the Champions Cup at Indian Wells.

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