Dokic Examines Her Future

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 16th December 2013

Dokic Examines Her Future

epa03087749 Australia's Fed Cup tennis player Jelena Dokic, front, speaks next to teammate Samantha Stosur during a media conference at the Forum Arena in Fribourg, Switzerland, Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Switzerland faces Australia in the World Group 2 first round. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER |

Jelena Dokic will take a pause to ponder the viability of her tennis career at age 30 as she joins the commentary team for the Hopman Cup in Perth starting December 28. Dokic, currently without a ranking and a first-round loser at the Australian Open pre-qualifying event, has not played a professional match since late 2012 due to her continuing run of injuries, bad luck and illness.

Now the Balkan-born Australian appears to be at a career crossroads, with advisers including former doubles ace Todd Woodbridge telling Melbourne’s Age newspaper that Dokic may need to consider her options. “We’ve had lots of discussions about her future, and she’s adamant that she wants to play for another couple of years; she really wants to get to be fully fit and play tennis,” he said. “But I’ve also said ‘that’s great, and I think that’s something that you need to do, but you need to be planning your future, and making a new career path’, and she’s really warmed to that idea and understanding.”

Woodbridge says that Dokic joining Fred Stolle and Darren Cahill on the television team for the eight-nation mixed team event will be good for Dokic. “She’s going to Perth on three fronts: to keep the comeback and the tennis going and to get plenty of hitting, then potentially she may sneak a (practice) match in, and then also to do some commentary.

“That’s putting the foot in the door to learn that part of the game, and the media. There’s no person out there who’s had more experiences than Jelena, in both the highs and the lows. I know how interested I am when I talk to her about what’s gone on in her career. I think she’s got great stories to tell, and I’ve actually found her quite motivating myself over the past eight weeks, because of the discipline and dedication she’s put into getting herself back on track.”

Dokic will also holder herself out as a hitting partner at the Hopman, where Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur will represent Australia.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, Bernard Tomic, Hopman Cup, Jelena Dokic, Samantha Stosur, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News