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| After hard-fought victories against quality opponents like Anna Chakvetadze, Caroline Wozniacki and Alisa Kleybanova, Dokic has proved that she can play big-time, mentally tough tennis again. The big match experience she gained in her heyday between 1999 and 2002 is paying off, as she can sense when her opponents are growing shaky. After essentially disappearing off the tour for four years, the Aussie already cracked the top 100 and is looking like a top -10 player. | The tall and strong Russian had a tremendous May through the September 2008 stretch, winning four titles and reaching the French Open and Olympics finals. The question for the ultra powerful 22-year-old . |
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| Because she’s more fit, she’s better balanced, more patient and doesn’t tire as easily. Safina hits a heavy ball off both wings, has an excellent first serve and fights like hell, witness her performance at last year’s French Open, where she fought off match points against Maria Sharapova and Dementieva en route to the final. | Dokic is a confident player and she's very high on her own abilities now. Her forehand has been deadly and her return of serve is to be feared. Her two-handed backhand has been ultra-consistent here. |
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| Safina is an excellent attacking player, who by employing first strike tennis can immediately dictate off her serve and return. Her defense has improved, too, but she’s much more confident when she’s taking huge cuts at the ball. She hasn’t done that nearly enough in her first four matches and if she’s to take down the determined Dokic, she cannot play afraid. | No real change is necessary, only minor improvements in consistency. Dokic is at her best when playing with pure instinct, ripping at balls off the ground and at poorly placed second serves. She must serve well and even though she’s spent a lot of time on court, prepare to leg out points because that’s what Safina will demand of her. |
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| They’ve played once, in 2003 Shanghai, a straight set win for Safina. | |
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