Dokic fires first shot

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Tonight, Jelena Dokic and Dinara Safina face off for a spot in the semifinals, but while the match isn’t due to begin until 7.30pm Melbourne time, the mind games have already started.

“I'm not thinking about a semifinal; just putting in a good match. I'm playing a girl that's (number) two, three in the world, could be No.1 after this tournament, and is probably the favourite for the tournament at the moment with everybody going out. This is like really pure match with no pressure on me. Even if I lose easily, it will not be a surprise. I'm playing the No.3 in the world. I would like to see how I can do against her.”

And with that, some 48 hours before the match was even due to begin, Dokic fired the first shot at her quarterfinal opponent.

After each win, Dokic has repeatedly said that she has nothing to lose, putting the pressure back on her more-fancied opponents.

Dokic enjoys being the underdog. And it looks like she’s even recruited other players to her cause. Serena Williams had this to say about Dokic on Monday: “She has nothing to lose. That's when people are so dangerous, when they have nothing to lose. That's a great position to be in.”

As is Serena’s way, she then provided Dokic with an example of inspiration – herself, and her win at Australian Open 2007. “Hopefully she can be motivated by what I did when I was ranked in the 80s. I think it's just an amazing story. I'm so happy for her.”

Tennis matches are played both on and off the court, and while Dokic has spent some time out of the game, she hasn’t lost any speed or agility around the mental court.

And that’s been the most impressive feature of Dokic’s game over the past nine days – her mental strength.

After opening up to the media after her first-round win against Tamira Paszek and revealing her fight with depression, Dokic has been as solid as a rock.

“Mentally I've been – going from every match, I've been unbelievable. Probably stronger and stronger considering, like I said today, I didn't play my best and didn't feel great really, but kept on going with my head. So that's what pulled me through today,” Dokic said after her latest three-set heart-stopper against Russian 29th seed Alisa Kleybanova.

Mentally, Dokic looks like she could run a marathon, but physically, she admitted after the Kleybanova match that she’s tiring.

And that could be the key tonight.

Safina also came through a difficult three-setter against Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, but Safina is match-hardened. Dokic is still building up her match legs and getting over a sprained ankle she suffered on Sunday night.

Tonight’s match will be the fifth for each player in nine days, meaning the effects of the past four matches will start to exact their toll.

All of Dokic’s matches have gone to three sets, while Safina has only been forced to go to a third set twice.

Dokic has spent just under nine hours on court, Safina less than seven.

Stamina aside, these two players are fairly evenly matched. Both are strong hitters from the baseline with big serves.

Dokic will have a full house at Rod Laver Arena behind her and millions more following on TV to help lift her to new heights if her legs can carry her; Safina will have the self-belief that she can make it to another Grand Slam final.

It will be an enthralling contest.