Jelena Dokic's first WTA Tour title in Rome on Sunday has reopened old wounds over her switching of allegiances from Australia to her native Yugoslavia. Dokic defeated Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 in the Italian Open clay-court final, but it was greeted indifferently in her adopted Australia.
A Wimbledon and Olympic semi-finalist last year, Dokic still retains an Australian passport but has offered her fans little hope of a return. "Australia is not an issue for me. It's the last thing on my mind," Dokic said at the weekend.
Australia's captain Lesley Bowrey isn't dreaming of having Dokic back in Sydney for Australia's Fed Cup second round tennis match against Switzerland in July. Bowrey, who coached Dokic during her seven years in Australia, can't see the 18-year-old's stance changing.
She will again ask Dokic if she is available for the grass-court tie at White City but is resigned to playing the same team that whitewashed Austria 50 in Adelaide last month.
"I think, being realistic, she has moved to America, she's making those type of comments - they may be comments of her's or her father (Damir) or together - but I think it's highly unlikely she'll play for Australia," Bowrey said yesterday. "She's very happy in America, especially now. She's gone to Europe and she's won the Italian. I think it's highly unlikely she'll play for Australia."
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