AP Photo
Australian player Jelena Dokic, currently on a comeback trail, will have to look forward to the next tournament as she crashed out during the first round of competitions in this week’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California.
The 26-year old player, who made headlines when she reached the Australian Open quarterfinals two months ago, was beaten by American tennis veteran Jill Craybas (6-4, 6-2) on Wednesday.
Dokic has had several attempts for a comeback in the past couple of years. There was progress last year when she won 3 titles on the challenger circuit and this time, she’s made great progress in her game.
The Australian has been training hard at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida for the past few months to improve her game. However, she said that she’s been struggling mentally these days which could have been the major factor in her loss.
“I’m really, really struggling mentally. I need to just settle down and get myself together again,” she said after the match.
Dokic is expected to take part at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida on March 25.
Other first round winners include Czech player Nicole Vaidisova who defeated Michaella Krajicek of Netherlands (6-3, 6-4) and Israeli player Shahar Peer who routed Kateryna Bondarenko (6-2, 6-1).
For more live updates of the ongoing BNP Paribas Open, visit the Tennis TV site HERE.
