Hitting Back :: A New York Sports Blog

Jelena Dokic won an epic battle with Alisa Kleybanova Sunday to reach her first Australian Open quarterfinal.

Apparently, the word quit isn’t in Jelena Dokic’s vocabulary. The 25 year-old unseeded wildcard continued her improbable run outlasting 29th seeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 last night advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals before a raucous Rod Laver Arena crowd in Melbourne.

Representing Australia as the only player left standing, Dokic put on a valiant display battling nerves and injury in a memorable Fourth Round match which lasted more than three hours. It featured some high quality power tennis with each combatant slugging it out from the baseline literally. The points were so competitive that games were tough to come by for each server which easily explained 13 breaks of serve and 25 break chances.

Twice, Dokic who’s used the same formula going the distance in each of her four big wins, she climbed back from a break down before running off the last three games to claim the first set.

In a role reversal, Kleybanova turned the tables showing plenty of resolve breaking Dokic in the 11th game when the country fan favorite served one of 11 double faults. But before she could level the match, she had to save four break points digging out before serving an ace to finally capture the hard fought set letting out a scream.

If the first couple of sets were very good, then the final one was great as it had all sorts of drama with Kleybanova ignoring the support for Dokic drawing first blood breaking for a 2-1 lead. She then was able to consolidate with a service hold for 3-1 with frustration lingering on her opponent’s face.

Would all the missed opportunities comeback to haunt Dokic? Part of it was due to Kleybanova with the lanky Russian’s power ground game eerily similar to American Lindsay Davenport. She boasts a deadly backhand and also hits a good forehand and clean ball able to produce some unbelievable angles making for some magnificent endings to lengthy rallies against the equally powerful Dokic whose forehand and backhand were in fine form despite 58 unforced errors.

Perhaps the biggest moment came during the fifth game when she was a couple of points from falling behind two breaks. A fate which Kleybanova’s previous upset victim Ana Ivanovic couldn’t overcome. Instead of giving in, Dokic continued to fight coming up with big hitting to get out of the jam holding for 2-3 keeping the crowd in it. The overwhelming support she received made for a Davis Cup like atmosphere. Something she was quick to note during an emotional postmatch interview thanking them.

Dokic put together a marvelous sixth game to break back setting up double break point by drawing Kleybanova in before cracking one of 46 winners. This time, she made it pay off outslugging her opponent who finally caved hitting a shot long to a loud scream and pump of the fist along with roaring approval.

Suddenly, the two close practice partners who were playing for so much ratcheted up the intensity doing what it took to hold when one break meant curtains.

The drama reached a feverish pitch when during the 10th game, Dokic turned her left ankle following a backhand return dropping the point with growing concern from the crowd as to how bad the injury was. After over a minute down, she picked herself up and limped to the Deuce side continuing to play through the pain to cheers.

Following a Kleybanova hold for five all, the question was could Dokic hold before getting treatment during the break? With a couple of unforced errors and some solid shots of her own, she quickly answered holding for 6-5 before getting a three minute injury timeout with the trainer taping it up.

Despite being hobbled between points, a tough Dokic was fine during play able to continue hitting her shots with conviction along with solid defense. She again responded to a Kleybanova hold by holding for 7-6 with the match going past 11 Australia time keeping defending men’s champ Novak Djokovic and former finalist Marcos Baghdatis waiting.

The same court which had already seen top seed Jelena Jankovic bounced along with Dokic’s next opponent Dinara Safina comeback from double break down besting Alise Cornet in three plus Roger Federer climb back from two sets down defeating Tomas Berdych now was about to witness another exciting conclusion to a well played match.

Following winning two of the first three points, Dokic used a drop shot to get Kleybanova in before ripping a backhand crosscourt setting up double match point to loud cheers.

After her feisty opponent saved one, this time Dokic ended it in style nailing a backhand return winner up the line off a short second serve finally prevailing to a thunderous ovation on the eve of Australia Day.

“It was always going to be a tough match tonight. She had a great win a couple of days ago and she played well,” an emotional Dokic said while fighting back tears while her equally pumped up coach Borna Bikic and boyfriend Tin celebrated over in the box.

“I was really exhausted physically, but I kept on fighting, and the crowd got amazing in that third set. It was hard to stay positive after I lost the second set and I went a break down in the third. But I kept on fighting and it paid off.”

When asked what expectations were entering the tournament, Dokic indicated that she just wanted to play a good opening match. But once she won, things changed along with any future plans and goals for the year that now has a woman who was ranked outside the top 600 last year back in the top 100.

“I wanted to put in a good performance in the first round and I achieved my goal for the tournament. This is just unbelievable. This is amazing. I was going to … have some days off and look forward to playing Fed Cup, but I guess those plans are scratched now.”

As for her next opponent, the No.3 ranked Safina should be a huge test. But compared to how her life was off the court, tennis must feel like a walk in the park.

“I’m not thinking about a semifinal. I’m just thinking about putting in a good match. I’m playing a girl who is probably the favourite for the tournament, so it will be a pure match with no pressure for me – but I would like to see how I can do against her.”

Murray Bounced: One of the Big Four was sent packing. No.4 seed Andy Murray was bounced out in the Round of 16 by No.14 Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who cameback from a set prevailing in five 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Murray had been battling a flu coming in but was simply outplayed by a very efficient Verdasco who showed off his improved fitness thanks to working with former Andre Agassi trainer Gil Reyes during the offseason in Vegas.

The talented lefty has always had a big ground game but never seemed able to produce that groundbreaking win needed to go deep into a major. That all changed tonight for the 25 year-old as he broke Murray midway through the final set and held twice converting a third match point on a short reply into the net by the tournament favorite.

Verdasco played better on the most crucial points in a match which was so close, Murray actually won one more point (138-137) despite the upset. Each player broke five times with only a winner (Murray-52, Verdasco-51) separating them.

With Murray gone, that leaves three favorites left in three-time Aussie champ Federer, defending champ Djokovic who defeated Baghdatis in four sets yesterday and top seeded Rafael Nadal who remained the only player to not drop a set dismantling No.13 Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarters a third consecutive year.

Nadal next faces No.6 Frenchman Gilles Simon who was up a set on countryman Gael Monfils when he retired citing a wrist injury.

Verdasco awaits the winner between last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and No.9 American James Blake with the match ongoing. Tsonga leads 6-4, 6-4.

The other men’s quarters are set with Djokovic facing Andy Roddick once more with the 27 year-old No.7 American looking to avenge a loss in the same round at last year’s U.S. Open. Federer will take on No.8 Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro with the winner to get either Djokovic or Roddick.

Serena into quarters: American Serena Williams continued her odd year luck when talented Bulgarian opponent Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire due to a bad case of stomach poisoning despite leading 6-3. 2-4.

After outslugging Serena breaking her twice to capture the first set, it became evident that something wasn’t right with Azarenka who later informed reporters just how bad she was feeling when she woke up at 6 in the morning and puked.

At least four times following points, she pulled up and was breathing heavily eventually needing a timeout seeing a doctor while in the bathroom. But the time off didn’t help as she struggled just to stay on her feet with plenty of concern from fans along with her opponent who didn’t seem to care about a double match the next day with older sis Venus.

Azarenka was so dizzy it looked like she might passout making for a scary scene. Finally, after missing a backhand badly for 30-All down 2-4 in the set, she slowly walked to the net to concede fighting tears while Serena talked to her.

The talented 19 year-old future star was helped off the court by a doctor and trainer to applause. The good news is she was okay and able to answer questions explaining how hard a day it was. She’ll be back.

The No.2 seeded Williams next faces No.8 Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova who also had a brief day leading China’s Jie Zheng 4-1 before her opponent retired due to a wrist injury making it three players who couldn’t complete matches on Australia Day.

The other quarter was set with No.4 seeded Russian Elena Dementieva continuing her torrid start to the season with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over No.18 Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.

She’ll next meet improving unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro who kept it going by disposing of countrywoman Anabel Medina Garriques (21) 6-3, 6-2. Two rounds prior she knocked out Venus Williams and hasn’t let up not dropping a set in her last two wins proving her run isn’t a fluke.