Melbourne, Apr 20: Australia would welcome back Jelena Dokic if she wanted to play for Australia at next year's Athens Olympics, Tennis Australia said today.
Dokic had vowed never to represent Australia again after she severed ties with her adopted country more than two years ago over media clashes with her notorious father Damir.
But according to a report in the Sun-Herald newspaper here, Dokic, 20, has changed her mind after being told she was ineligible to represent Serbia and Montenegro, formerly Yugoslavia, in Athens next year.
"We remain in periodic contact with Jelena," Tennis Australia spokesman John Lindsay said today.
"We have always said the door is open if there is a change in her position. But it's a very personal matter for Jelena and we would not want to put any pressure on her.



"We have told her we are here if she has a change of mind."



For Dokic, number 11 in the world, to be eligible to represent Australia in Athens, she would have to play two Fed Cup ties between now and August 2004. That means she would have to make up her mind by July.



The Sun-Herald reported that Dokic had changed her view about Australia after she fell out with her father and former coach.



Before throwing in her lot with Yugoslavia, Dokic represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics, the Hopman Cup and the Fed Cup.



But she declined to enter the last two Australian Opens after claiming that the 2001 draw was rigged against her.


Bureau Report