The 27-year-old Australian veteran avenged her defeat by the German, levelling their head-to-head record at 1-1. She was defeated by Malek in the 2009 edition of Wimbledon but got the better of her opponent this time around. Dokic dropped the opening set of the contest but bounced back in to the game to register her 14th victory of the running WTA season.
It was an enthralling contest to watch as the two players pushed hard at each other to book a berth in the second round of the qualifiers. Dokic had a sloppy start to the game but recovered very well from the one-set deficit to win the match. Malek took off very well to bag the opener but lost her momentum in the later two sets to end her voyage at the Sony Ericsson Open.
The Aussie served decently in the match, delivering 61 per cent serve on target and taking 41 out of 61 points on it. She committed six double faults in the process but belted six aces as well to nullify the mistakes. Dokic crafted a total of eight opportunities to break the opponent’s serve and succeeded three times in doing so.
Malek’s aggressive start to the opener put her in the commanding position as she collected 74 per cent of her first serve points. The German displayed brilliant error-free tennis to edge pass her opponent, capitalizing upon the silly mistakes of Dokic. The two double faults by the Aussie proved costly for her as Malek cracked the first serve break of the match to close the opening set at 7-5.
The Australian had a strict check over her unforced errors in the next set and stung an early break to get to commanding lead of 4-1. Although Malek collected 81 per cent of her first serve points, she failed to break the Australian serve in the second set and kept lagging behind as Dokic clinched the second set at 6-3.
With the two players bagging one set a piece, an action packed third set was witnessed. An early exchange of serve breaks was seen from both sides but a second break point from Dokic gave her the necessary momentum to conclude victory at 6-4.
Dokic will take on Christina McHale of the United States in the second round of the qualifiers. McHale ousted Carina Witthoeft of Germany in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round.
7 comments:
Dokic, Jelena ranking - Current 64 - Previous 61
I'm glad to see Dokic getting her ranking up higher. (Although she lost 3 spots since last week.)
Also its a shame a player of her caliber has to play these qualifier tournaments.
Does she have to win the entire quali tournament to get into the main draw in Miami? (I'm not familiar with qualifier action.)
On a side note: Aggie & Princess are in the same section again! Booooooo.
Sorana was cast to the Sony Ericcson Xperia Hot Shots T.V. reality show. This (garbage) player wasn't good enough to qualify at I.W. but she got a wild card in Miami. I think she got a Wild card to the main draw because the sponsor of the tournament is the same as the T.V. reality show. Oh yes, surprise, surprise, she lost in the first round. She is not the top Romanian player, she is not even the best young Romanian player.
Dokic would have been better choice at that wild card or Christina McHale who met in the final round of qualies. You will be happy to know Captain your Dokic won.
Caps321 in order for a player to qualify to the main draw in I.W. and Miami they have to win two rounds. For Grand Slams there are three rounds that a player must win in order to make it to the main draw. 12 qualify for I.W. and Miami, ten qualify for Grand Slams. Hope it helps.
Thanks, Carlos.
Dokic wins, eh? She's one of my favorites!
You're welcome Caps321. Just to let you know the final score was Dokic in three sets 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2. I hope she didn't spend too much energy qualifying.
Dokic is a favorite player on this blog, she is also one of the players that is in my good graces.
I think Dokic is a favurite player on this blog, because she's one all three of us like! Ahahah :P
Its quite a rare senario.
I have to correct myself Sorana did quailfy for the main draw at I.W. It was Lisicki who didn't qualify for the main draw at I.W. she is also in the reality show and she also got a wild card. In other words the sponsor picked the wild card players.
Sorana is more accomplished than her compatriots, but at this point in time she is not the best Romanian player out there IMO is the youngster Halep.
I checked Sorana's record 1 WTA singles title, 3 doubles titles, 4 ITF singles titles, 9 ITF doubles titles. Highest singles ranking 23 in August 2009, but ended that year ranked 46. Right now she is ranked 97. In a couple of weeks she will turn 21.
Captain the war cry for us three is "Go Dokic".
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