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2001 TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - ROME

ROME, ITALY
May 18, 2001

J. DOKIC/J. Kruger, 6-2, 7-6

An Interview With: JELENA DOKIC


THE MODERATOR: First question, please. 

Q. Were you a little bit scared during the tiebreak?

JELENA DOKIC: She -- I think I made some errors that I shouldn't have done, and 
I think I wanted to finish the match off quickly. But, you know, she played a 
couple of good points, and I was lucky that I had a big lead, so I finished it 
off on the last one. 

Q. I just came in, but have you been asked yet about your back problem? What is 
it, and how much pain were you in?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't know what it is. It started to bother me as soon as we 
started, so I was getting a little bit worried. But I think I just spasmed up a 
little bit. We'll see... It was getting worse, but hopefully it will get better. 

Q. You don't see it as a problem to your continuing in the tournament?

JELENA DOKIC: I hope not. I don't think so. I think, you know, I've played a lot 
this week and I played really late last night so, you know, it's only been -- it 
hasn't even been 12 hours since I stopped and I was back on court again. So I 
don't see it as a problem. I think it will just, you know, I just need to get 
some treatment, and it will hopefully be all right. 

Q. When do you think you will come back again in Yugoslavia next time?

JELENA DOKIC: I don't know. I haven't got -- I've got a lot of tournaments to 
play right now and my schedule's very busy so not right now. And, you know, the 
tennis season is, you know, very long, and I haven't decided yet. 

Q. The probability is that you will play Conchita in the semifinals. How do you 
rate her as a threat here and a clay court player in general?

JELENA DOKIC: I think on clay she's very dangerous, just as she is on a lot of 
the other surfaces. But I think she has to win first, it will be a tough match 
for her. And if she does get through, I played her a lot of times, we had a lot 
of tough matches. And I think, you know, I'd like playing her again because, you 
know, I think I've got a chance to beat her. I think I'm playing well in this 
tournament so far. So, you know, I would really look forward to playing her. 

Q. Do you know something about her opponent, Schiavone?

JELENA DOKIC: I played her at the US Open last year, third round, and obviously 
she's done well in this tournament. She's beaten some, you know, good players. 
And, you know, like I said, whoever gets through, either her or Conchita, I 
think they both play similarly on this surface. You know, I really don't mind 
who gets through. 


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