Jelena Dokic, last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist, overcame a tough first set to eventually cruise into the second round at Wimbledon following the 7-5 6-1 victory over Paraguay's Rossana de los Rios.
Under the watchful eye of controversial dad Damir on baking Court Three, the 18-year-old swept to a 3-0 lead in the first set with an early break of serve. Dokic stretched her South American rival with a variety of power shots, including her specialist two-handed backhand. But while the former Australian Olympic performer must have pleased her famously emotional father, who caused some consternation courtside by lighting up his pipe mid-set, 27-year-old mum-of-one de los Rios rallied impressively to break back for 2-3 and then held a 5-4 edge. Dokic, though, came through the mini crisis with typical resourceful determination after a series of thumping baseline exchanges to take the opening set 7-5 in 42 minutes.
Once the first set was in the bag, Dokic never looked back and she stormed through the second 6-1 after breaking her rival's opening serve. De los Rios, who had matched the 14th seed for most of the opening set, had no answer as Dokic stepped up a gear.
Filed by Pat Nugent
