Dokic dumps coach on way to Open win

17 January 2011 - 15:46 By Sapa-AFP
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Jelena Dokic wrote another chapter in her famously troubled career Monday when she made a successful start at the Australian Open despite splitting with her coach just days earlier.

Dokic, whose personal problems include a jail stint for her father for threatening to bomb the Australian embassy in Belgrade, confirmed the parting with Glenn Schaap after subduing Czech player Zuzana Ondraskova 6-3, 6-2.

“Yeah, we split a couple days ago, right before the Australian Open. 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. This is the first time we travelled together, so it was all kind of a test period anyway.

“I feel like he didn’t suit the type of tennis that I wanted to play. Maybe he’s good for somebody else, but I didn’t feel that click, basically.”

Dokic had been coached by Schaap, formerly with Dinara Safina and Nadia Petrova, since the middle of last year, and had previously praised him for his hard work ethic.

The 27-year-old also credited him with restoring her motivation as she bids to regain form which took her to the 2000 Wimbledon semi-finals and helped her rise as high as world number four in 2002.

“I feel really fresh mentally. My motivation is back. I think that’s something that Glenn did bring back with the hard work and motivation,” she said on Monday.

“I always had it, but he brought that extra bit of hard work that you have to do to get back. Sometimes you get lost and you forget just how much you have to do. I have to give him credit for that, of course.”

Dokic, who is currently ranked 137 but is targeting a return to the top 50, has now raised hopes of another strong Australian Open showing after reaching the 2009 quarter-finals as a wildcard.

The Croatian-born player, who moved to Australia as a child, has endured well-documented off-court turmoil including a battle with depression and a difficult relationship with her father, Damir.

Damir Dokic was jailed early last year after a Belgrade court found him guilty of threatening several people, including the Australian ambassador, and illegally possessing two bombs and other weapons.

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