Jelena Dokic says that Australian wildcard Aleksandar Vukic's archetypal circular triumph could propel him to unthinkable heights successful the twelvemonth to come.
"From a prizemoney perspective, it volition spell a agelong mode due to the fact that helium tin truly put into this year," Dokic said connected Nine's The Morning Serve.
"Whether that's a coach, whether that's a fittingness trainer, and it volition truly acceptable him up good to support going.Vukic upset 30th effect Lloyd Harris successful the archetypal round, and volition contiguous play Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot for a spot successful the past 32.
"Also from a ranking perspective, helium volition get a batch of points - hopefully get into the apical 100, and that opens truthful galore doors due to the fact that you're successful each expansive slam main draw," Dokic said.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a coagulated warm-up to the Open, reaching the last astatine the 2nd of 2 ATP events successful Adelaide earlier this month.
He was defeated successful the semi-final by chap Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. "For me, he's been incredibly impressive," Dokic said.
"I similar the mode that helium plays, uses his forehand good - but he's besides truthful calm retired there, he's got a large attitude, he's a fighter."
Vukic bushed seasoned American Steve Johnson arsenic good arsenic satellite fig 37 Alexander Bublik successful that tournament, earlier adding the scalp of Harris connected Monday.
"Once you commencement to get wins similar that consistently, there's nary fluke to that," she said.
"I really spoke to him successful Adelaide and I said 'you're 150 successful the satellite but you're to maine playing truthful overmuch amended than that'."
Welcome to Wide World of Sports' sum of time 3 of the Australian Open, with a full of 29 Aussies successful enactment today, with first-round men's and women's doubles matches besides taking spot connected a jam-packed day.
Australian wildcard Aleksandar Vukic volition purpose to support his glory tally going erstwhile helium plays his 2nd circular lucifer against 32-year-old Radu Albot, who has been ranked arsenic precocious arsenic No.39.
Ash Barty's lucifer volition beryllium the 2nd connected Rod Laver Arena today, wherever she volition look to proceed her winning streak against Italian satellite No.145 Lucia Bronzetti.
The 23-year-old Italian qualifier is contesting her archetypal Grand Slam main gully and seeking a career-first top-50 win. Rafael Nadal volition travel Barty's match, wherever the Spaniard volition instrumentality connected German Yannick Hanfmann.
The nighttime league connected Rod Laver Arena volition spot Naomi Osaka play American Madison Brengle, followed by Aussie John Millman taking connected Alexander Zverev.
No uncertainty Barty volition support 1 oculus connected Osaka's progression considering she's apt to look the satellite No.2 successful the coming rounds.
Despite being connected a collision people to play the Japan prima earlier than she would person hoped, Australian tennis large Jelena Dokic is inactive backing Barty to grip the unit of favouritism and travel done the tourney arsenic champion.
"I consciousness similar this is the champion she's looked, the fittest she's looked. I emotion the mode that she's been playing, she looks highly blessed arsenic good which is ever great," Dokic said connected Nine's The Morning Serve.
Dokic pointed retired that Barty has had plentifulness of rest, cutting her play abbreviated successful 2021 aft the US Open.
"I deliberation it's been truly bully for her, she had clip to bash a bully off-season and for me, I decidedly consciousness similar this is her year," she said.
"She's my favourite to triumph this year.
"Assuming she beats qualifier Lucia Bronzetti today, Barty volition person to perchance navigate past Camili Giorgi successful the 3rd round, and Naomi Osaka successful the fourth, successful what is shaping up arsenic a tricky way for the Australian.
"It's a really, truly pugnacious conception but for maine this is the champion she's looked, and I consciousness similar she's really improved her crippled since past year, if that was adjacent possible."
There's undoubtedly a batch of unit and anticipation connected Barty to triumph her location slam, but Dokic is backing her countrywoman to emergence to the challenge.
"There's nary uncertainty there's ever other unit here, other nerves - and it volition beryllium for her arsenic good nary substance however beardown she is and nary substance however good she deals with pressure," Dokic said.
"She's utilizing it now, successful a affirmative way. She's had a mates of Australian Opens wherever she's played nether unit and that acquisition volition assistance her a lot, particularly with the pugnacious gully she has."
"I deliberation she tin thrive connected that unit and clasp it, actually."
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