Melbourne: Jelena Dokic's fairytale comeback to the Australian Open continued to gain momentum when she beat Russian Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 in the fourth round on Sunday.
The Yugoslav-born Australian, riding a wave of public support and national sympathy after her troubled past, turned back the clock to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2002 French Open.
The match swung wildly back and forth as both players struggled with their serve and nerves before Dokic sealed a famous victory, triggering wild celebrations on the Melbourne Park Centre Court.
"This is unbelievable to be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam," Dokic said in a courtside interview. "I was going to have the week off but I guess those plans are scratched now."
It was not a match that reached great standards, with 13 service breaks and a combined 96 unforced errors, but it was high on drama and physical and emotional pain.
Dokic showed signs of exhaustion after being pushed to three sets in all three of her previous rounds and there were fears her run would end in drama when she rolled her left ankle late in the third set.
However, she dusted herself off and continued fighting, roared on by an Australian public that has fallen back in love with her after she poured out her heart about her long battle with depression and troubles with now-estranged father Damir.
Family split
"I really struggled physically tonight, I was really on my last reserves," Dokic told a news conference.
"She really had me in that third set. To come out and pull it out was great. "All my emotions on court, I'm really controlling them well. I'm really tough mentally. I'm really determined and fighting."
Dokic began her playing career in Australia but the relationship turned sour when her family returned to Serbia in 2001 after her father accused Australian Open organisers of rigging the draw to ensure his daughter lost in the first round.
Two years later, Dokic walked out on her family and returned to Australia.
Her relationship with her family has never been the same but she is trying to patch up things with Australia.
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As a teenager, Dokic made the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the 2000 Sydney Olympics and climbed to No. 4 in the world before her life and game started unravelling.
She dropped off the tour for three years as she battled severe depression before deciding to make a comeback last year after being persuaded to have another try by new coach Borna Bikic, the brother of her boyfriend Tin.
"I think he might have a few drinks tonight. I think I might as well," she said.
Currently ranked 187 in the world, Dokic was given a wildcard into the tournament after winning a qualifying event, but will now move into the top 100.
She set the tone for Sunday's floodlit match with a double fault on the first point.
There were five service breaks in each of the first and second sets as both players struggled to seize control of the match.
The wild fluctuations continued in the deciding set with Kleybanova, who beat last year's runner-up Ana Ivanovic in the third round and was seeded 29th, seemingly on top before Dokic broke back in the sixth game to level at 3-3.
Dokic's opponent in Tuesday's quarter-finals is Russian world number three Dinara Safina, who saved two match points in her 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 win over French teenager Alize Cornet.
"There is no pressure on me," Dokic said. "Even if I lose easily, it will not be a surprise. I'm playing the number three in the world. I would just like to see how I can do against her."
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