DRAWING inspiration from the original comeback queen, Jennifer Capriati, Jelena Dokic is finally dreaming of grand slam glory after embarking on a remarkable run to the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Dokic will continue her quest for a miraculous major triumph against Russian star Dinara Safina on Tuesday armed with a newfound belief that the sport's greatest spoils are suddenly within reach.
"To come after a three-year layoff and to be in the quarter-finals of a grand slam straightaway really gives you a lot confidence," Dokic said.
"Whatever happens doesn't really matter. I'm not thinking about a semi-final, but just putting in a good match.
"I'm playing a girl that's 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 (but) I would like to see how I can do against her.
"We see there's a lot of seeds falling, maybe I can have a chance to do even better at a grand slam."
While Dokic believes her best chances lie further in the future, Australia's Fed Cup captain, David Taylor, rates her a legitimate title contender this week.
Taylor also revealed that the 25-year-old was privately plotting a Capriati-like rise from tennis ashes to grand slam heroine.
Capriati, who also had to deal with an overbearing father during her prodigious teenage years - although not in the same volatile league as Damir Dokic - went five years without a title before emerging from obscurity to land back-to-back Opens - her first two slams - in 2001 and 2002.
The American also won the 2002 French Open and crowned her amazing revival by snaring the world No.1 ranking.
"That's a player Jelena's often spoken about," Taylor said.
"She was lost in tennis for a couple of years and no-one saw her, but also kept playing here and there like Jelena's done."
Taylor was Martina Hingis's personal coach when Capriati emerged from the wilderness to beat the Swiss - then the world No.1 - in a practice match in Florida.
"Capriati told me - because we lived at the same resort - that that was the turning point, beating Martina in practice," he said.
"She knew then that she could make a successful comeback.
"I'd say with Jelena winning in front of 15,000 people here, that's the same. Now Jelena's done this, this is her turning point now.
"And the thing is with Jelena, once she gets in that trance, she's as good as anyone mentally.
"Women's tennis, they always say, is mental. If she's that good mentally, that's a massive weapon.
"Anything's possible with her now. She's exceeded everyone's expectations and it kind of takes the pressure off."
The Australian wildcard opted against practising on Monday, but she is said to be in no doubt of taking the court against Safina despite spraining her ankle late in her dramatic 7-5 5-7 8-6 fourth-round win over Russian teen Alisa Kleybanova on Sunday night.
"I spoke to her this morning and she said her ankle was fine so that shouldn't be an issue," Taylor said, echoing the diagnosis of the tournament doctor.
Dokic's coach, Borna Bikic, meanwhile released a statement saying his charge's injury had responded well to treatment.
"Jelena got physiotherapy treatment on her ankle last night and today," Bikic said.
"The treatment is progressing well.
"It was always intended that she would not practice today and use this as a recovery day."
Victory over Safina would thrust Dokic, the world No.187, into a semi-final on Thursday against No.7 Vera Zvonareva or No.16 seed Marion Bartoli and keep alive her dream of becoming the lowest-ranked grand slam champion in history.
"That's a player Jelena's often spoken about. She was lost in tennis for a couple of years and no-one saw her, but also kept playing here and there like Jelena's done."
– David Taylor
Australia's Fed Cup captain compares
jelena Dokic with Jennifer Capriati.
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