Tigers fitness coach whips former star into shape
Article from: Herald Sun
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22940274-3162,00.htmlBruce Matthews
December 18, 2007 12:00am
AN AFL fitness expert is helping Jelena Dokic get back into shape for a comeback at next month's Australian Open.
Richmond strength and conditioning coach Matt Hornsby has been advising Dokic as she attempts to revive her stalled career.
The former world No. 4 yesterday recorded her third consecutive victory at Melbourne Park in the Australian Open wildcard playoffs.
She overcame a mid-match slump and dodgy serve to beat Victorian Karolina Wlodarczak 6-2 2-6 6-4 to seal a place in tomorrow's knockout quarter-finals.
"I've done a lot in the last two months, from endurance to speed work to footwork. I need to do everything, I've started from scratch," the 24-year-old said yesterday.
"But matches like these help. I've pulled up pretty good, I can play three sets, which gives me confidence, and I've just got to keep on working."
Dokic will use today's rest day to continue her fitness regimen.
Observers say she has made remarkable progress since linking with Hornsby, but she knows she is still way off being competitive in the Open main draw.
"Knowing that I'm through to the quarter-finals allowed me not to worry too much about the match today," Dokic said.
"I'm happy that I got through and I get a day off.
"It has been three days in a row for me and I've pulled up pretty good. But the next matches, if I keep on going, will be tougher."
Her quarter-final opponent is 16-year-old Victorian Olivia Rogowska, a member of Australia's triumphant junior Fed Cup team this year.
Dokic was dogged again by too many unforced errors and her serve went awry in the swirling wind.
She threw in two double faults when trying to close out the match at 5-2 in the final set.
"The conditions were very tough with the wind. But I served overall pretty good when I needed to. I didn't play my best, but I came through and played well when I needed to," Dokic said.
"I'm not happy at all with my game. I'm struggling to put all my practice work into my matches. That's expected, so I think I can get much, much better and, hopefully, I'll do that in my next match.
"Generally, I'm not happy at all, but that's the way it has to be and I'm just glad to go through with that level of play."
Dokic said she had been searching for a suitable coach for the past two months.
"I'm working with a couple of people from Tennis Australia who help me through my warm-ups and practice and some of my matches," she said.
"And I'm looking to, hopefully, have someone (permanent coach) in the next month," she said.
