Two days ago I wrote about Jelena Dokic’s plans of a full comeback, and now Tennis Australia has published an exclusive interview with the former world number four.

Among other things, the 24-year-old Dokic revealed why she stopped playing tennis, and why she wants to revive her tennis career. Here’s what she said:

“I just haven't played because I didn't feel within myself that I was ready to play…You always have ups and downs in a career and, of course, I have had a bit of a down period. I felt like I just wasn't ready to play, until now. I think if you are not ready it is counterproductive to try and comeback. It is better to leave it and get yourself together. That is what I have done… It has taken some time, but right now I feel like I am in a place mentally and physically that I am ready and able to compete. Now I feel in mind and body I am back and ready to give 100 per cent to train hard and try and play again.”

I hope we’ll see Jelena Dokic in full form again.

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Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova became the fifth of eight seeds to leave the Zurich Open early (after Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Amelie Mauresmo, and Serena Williams). The seventh seeded Slovakian lost to Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-3 in the second round. This means that Hantuchova’s chances of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid are getting slimmer.

World number nine Hantuchova partly blames the cold for her loss: "I had a really hard time today trying to catch my breath in between points. I have been fighting a cold for the past few days and I really just had nothing left and became very tired out there." Read more »

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Three seeded players, Amelie Mauresmo, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, fell in the second round of the $1,340,000 Zurich Open on Wednesday.

Former world number one and eighth seed Amelie Mauresmo, who has struggled since an appendectomy in March, was defeated by Alona Bondarenko 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

"I have to gain confidence by winning matches like this one but it didn't happen. And physically I'm just not at the level I've been the last several years," Mauresmo said. Read more »

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In hopes of restarting her shattered career, former world number four Jelena Dokic flew into Melbourne from Europe at the weekend and has asked the national federation Tennis Australia for help.

The Serbian-born Australian tennis player is currently unranked and it is four seasons since she won a grand slam match. In 2007, Dokic played only one match — in March at a minor event in Rome she earned $98 after losing in the first round.

Tennis Australia says it will help organize coaching and provide practice facilities for Dokic but will not offer any financial assistance.

Here’s a video of 24-year-old Dokic practicing in Melbourne, having Australian Open as her first major target. (sources: Herald Sun, LiveNews)

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World number six Serena Williams is the fifth player to qualify for the season-ending Championships, after Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic. By reaching the final of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, Williams has achieved this feat for the seventh time in her career.

The Sony Ericsson Championships will take place in Madrid form November 6-11. It is the richest annual women's sporting event in the world which gathers the Top 8 singles players and Top 4 doubles teams from the season to battle it out for a share of the $3-million prize purse. And don't forget that from 2008 prize money will be even greater. (source: WTA Tour)

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