Dokic Defies Odds To Reach Quarter-Finals

Dokic`s next opponent in Tuesday`s quarter-finals is Russian world number three Dinara Safina.

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 charged with 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 she rolled her left ankle late in the third set.

However, she regained her composure and kept fighting to the end after being 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 her father Damir.

FAMILY SPLIT

"I was really exhausted physically but I kept on fighting and the crowd was amazing in that third set," she said.

"It was hard to stay positive after I lost the second and was a break down in the third but I kept on fighting and it paid off."

Although she began her playing career in Australia, Dokic's relationship with her adopted country turned sour when her family returned to Serbia in 2001 after her now-estranged 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.

Dokic, who was given a wildcard into the tournament after winning a qualifying event, set the tone for Sunday's floodlit match with a double fault on the first point.

There were five service breaks in both the first and second sets as both players struggled to seize control of the match. Nerves started to fray and the tension rose.

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, drawing first blood.

Dokic broke back in the sixth game to level at 3-3 then broke again in the 14th and final game when she smashed a return winner down the line.

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.