Australia's Jelena Dokic has won her first round match at the Australian Open but it was bad news for fellow Aussie Jarmila Gajdosova, who crashed out at the first hurdle.
Dokic cruised through 6-2, 6-1 against Anna Chakvetadze to reach the second round, but Gajdosova was left frustrated by a straight sets exit to Maria Kirilenko.
She was on the verge of tears in her post-match press conference and was at odds to explain her disappointing performance.
"The first thing everyone says is how bad my game is," said Gajdosova.
"When you play well, it's 'oh you're unbelievable'.
"Then you have a bad morning and it's 'you played real crap today'.
"You can't win no matter what I do.
"You believe in something you've been doing since you were seven years old, you go to 24 in the world so you would think I have achieved something already.
"And still people question it every single day."
The way she sees it, the question is whether to continue to go for her shots or to change the habit of a lifetime and play it safe.
And that is really no question at all.
"Be conservative?" said a frustrated Gajdosova.
"Look at (Kim) Clijsters, do you think she plays like that? No. And she won a grand slam.
"Look at (Maria) Sharapova. Does she play like that? And she won a grand slam.
"Li Na, Petra Kvitova, anyone, it's not enough to make balls.
"The only person who does it unbelievably is (world number one Caroline) Wozniacki.
"She makes enough balls, she doesn't miss."
Former Australian touring pro Nicole Pratt disagrees with Gajdosova's assessment.
For Pratt, the problem is all mental.
"What it has to with is between the ears," said commentator Pratt.
"I think she could certainly do with some psychology.
"Everybody has people in their support team who they can call on and for me that's the side of things she needs to address.
"There are no weaknesses except what goes on in her mind on the tennis court."
ABC/AAP
Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted January 17, 2012 15:32:24
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