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Dokic will play for Yugoslavia instead of Australia
Jelena Dokic, upset about the way her family has been treated in Australia, will play instead for her native Yugoslavia in the Australian open.
Jelena Dokic, upset about the way her family has been treated in Australia, will play instead for her native Yugoslavia in the Australian open.
The switch came as Dokic's father, Damir, complained for the second year in a row that the Australian open draw is rigged against his daughter. She must face defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the first round on Monday.
Dokic, 17, said that Tennis Australia should have taken steps to protect her from such a difficult opening-round match. “I'm no 1 in Australia, and yet, I have to play Lindsay Davenport. That was one of the reasons for my decision,” she said. “And also I've been unhappy with the media coverage.”
The switch came as Dokic's father, Damir, complained for the second year in a row that the Australian open draw is rigged against his daughter. She must face defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the first round on Monday.
Dokic, 17, said that Tennis Australia should have taken steps to protect her from such a difficult opening-round match. “I'm no 1 in Australia, and yet, I have to play Lindsay Davenport. That was one of the reasons for my decision,” she said. “And also I've been unhappy with the media coverage.”
Damir dokic, who moved his family from Yugoslavia to Australia six years ago, has repeatedly made headlines for his unpredictable behaviour. He was expelled from last year's Wimbledon and US Open, and the WTA tour banned him until March.
In the latest outburst, he questioned the computer draw that gave his daughter such a tough opening match.
Bureau Report