Dokic makes winning return

Published February 5, 2009

PERTH (Australia), Feb 4: Jelena Dokic continued her spectacular comeback on Wednesday, leading Australia to a comprehensive 3-0 win over South Korea in their opening Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Group I clash.

The former world number four said she was nervous ahead of her first appearance for Australia in the women’s team event since 2000 but cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Lee Jin-A, ranked a lowly 305 in the world.

World number 43 Samantha Stosur then wrapped up the Group ‘A’ tie for the host nation with a 6-2, 6-4 win over the 226th-ranked Lee Ye-Ra.

Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs completed a clean sweep with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Chang Kyung-Mi and Lee Jin-A in the doubles.

The 25-year-old Dokic, who emerged from years in the tennis wilderness with a remarkable run to the Australian Open quarter-finals last month, said she had plenty in reserve after beating an opponent whom she admitted she did not even know was left-handed before the match.

In front of just a few hundred fans, a far cry from the packed crowds in Melbourne, Dokic’s only hiccup came when she served for the match at 5-1 in the second set and was broken by Lee.

In Group ‘A’, India, without injured star Sania Mirza, slumped to a 3-0 loss to New Zealand.

Results:

Asia/Oceania Group I:

Group A:

Australia bt Korea 3-0: Jelena Dokic (Australia) bt Lee Jin-A (Korea) 6-0, 6-2; Samantha Stosur (Australia) bt Lee Ye-Ra (Korea) 6-2, 6-4; Rennae Stubbs/Casey Dellacqua (Australia) bt Chang Kyung Mi/Lee Jin-A (Korea) 6-0, 6-2.

New Zealand bt India 3-0: Diane Hollands (New Zealand) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi (India) 6-3, 6-0; Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) bt Ankita Bhambri (India) 6-3, 6-2; Erakovic/Kairangi Vano (New Zealand) bt Bhambri/Bhambri (India) 6-2, 6-3.

Group B: Thailand bt Taiwan 3-0: Suchanun Viratprasert (Thailand) bt Hwang I-Hsuan (Taiwan) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) bt Chan Chin-Wei (Taiwan) 6-2, 6-0; Tanasurgan/Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (Thailand) bt Hwang/Chuang Chia-Jung (Taiwan) 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-1.Indonesia bt Uzbekistan 2-1: Ayu Fani Damayanti (Indonesia) bt Vlada Ekshibarova (Uzbekistan) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Agkul Amanmuradova (Uzbekistan) bt Sandy Gumulya (Indonesia) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; Damayanti/Gumulya (Indonesia) bt Ammammuradova/Khabibulina (Uzbekistan) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Asia/Oceania Group II:

Hong Kong bt Iran 3-0: Yang Zi Jun (Hong Kong) bt Shadi Tabatabaei (Iran) 6-0, 6-0; Zhang Ling (Hong Kong) bt Ghazaleh Torkaman (Iran) 6-0, 6-0; Sher Pui Wing/Wu Ho Ching (Hong Kong) bt Madona Najarian/Tabatabaei (Iran) 6-2, 7-5.

Kazakhstan bt Singapore 3-0: Galina Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan) bt Celina Cassandra Goetti (Singapore) 6-0, 6-2; Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) bt Tan Li-Yun (Singapore) 6-0, 6-0; Shvedova/Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan) bt Goetti/Tan (Singapore) 6-1, 6-1.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Stalled talks
Updated 25 Jan, 2025

Stalled talks

It would have been wiser for PTI to not react to the provocation. However bitter their differences, both parties need something from each other.
Bureaucratic approach
25 Jan, 2025

Bureaucratic approach

WHEN bureaucrats fancy themselves as scholars, universities suffer. It’s a pity this is a lesson the Sindh...
West Bank’s turn
Updated 25 Jan, 2025

West Bank’s turn

It is highly likely that Israel will try and annex the West Bank, with the Trump admin egging it on.
Digital dragnet
24 Jan, 2025

Digital dragnet

The Pakistani state must stop inflicting wounds on itself and learn to resolve its internal issues through social and political means.
USC closure
24 Jan, 2025

USC closure

THE PML-N government seems to have finally firmed up its mind on the future of the Utility Stores. The cabinet has...
Hindu exodus
Updated 24 Jan, 2025

Hindu exodus

The state cannot absolve itself of the responsibility to protect Hindu citizens, and assure them of safety.