Out of this world

to keep her balls deep, get her first serve percentage at about 60 or over and attack all short balls. It is such a great opportunity for both girls to win their first Olympic medals and while neither have been in this situation before, you have to favour Monica in big match situations. She has been in similar situations before and played in numerous important finals. I don't think Dokic will let the situation overwhelm her, even though she is playing her childhood idol and former countrywoman (both having originated from Serbia). She can use the vociferous home crowd to her advantage, but even so, it is hard not to go with Seles on the important points.
Prediction: SELES in TWO SETS

MONICA SELES

• Age: 26
• Height: 5'10½"
• WTA Singles Ranking: 5
• Highest Singles Ranking: 1 (March 1991)
• Career Singles Titles: 47
• 2000 WTA Singles Win-Loss Record: 46-10 (0.821)
• Win-Loss Record in Finals: 47-26 (0.644)
• Last Singles Title: 2000 Italian Open, Rome (Clay)
• 2000 Season Highlights (prior): WINNER - Oklahoma City, Amelia Island, Rome; FINALIST - San Diego, New Haven
• Biggest Scalps of the Season: CONCHITA MARTINEZ (Amelia Island, #8), NATHALIE TAUZIAT (New Haven, #8), ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO (Amelia Island, #11; Wimbledon, #9)

JELENA DOKIC

• Age: 17
• Height: 5'8"
• WTA Singles Ranking: 34
• Highest Singles Ranking: 29 (June 2000)
• Career Singles Titles: 0
• 2000 WTA Singles Win-Loss Record: 21-13 (0.618)
• Win-Loss Record in Finals: 0-0
• Last Singles Title: Yet to win a title
• 2000 Season Highlights (prior): SEMI FINALIST - Wimbledon; QUARTER FINALIST - Hilton Head, Rome
• Biggest Scalps of the Season: VENUS WILLIAMS (Rome, #4), BARBARA SCHETT (Hopman Cup, #8), SANDRINE TESTUD (Fed Cup, #11)

GOLD MEDAL MATCH
Elena Dementieva (RUS) versus 2-Venus Williams (USA)
Head-to-Head Series: DEMENTIEVA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 1999 Fed Cup Final (Hard), DEMENTIEVA d. WILLIAMS 1-6 6-3 7-6(5)
It's difficult to find many players who have a winning record over Venus, and surprisingly, Elena has one. She fought for an extremely close win in last year's Fed Cup final between the USA and Russia. Venus is as determined as ever to win the gold and I have been impressed lately at how well she plays the important points now, how she maintains the aggression in those key moments. I get the sense that Elena seems content just to win any Olympic medal and that she doesn't really believe she can beat Venus again. Perhaps the intimidation factor could play a key role in this match. It would be the most important match so far in Elena's short career and playing

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