American Stevenson prevents Dokic's chance of Wimbledon return

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2006

LONDON (AFP) — Jelena Dokic's bid to qualify for Wimbledon ended at the first hurdle when she was beaten by former semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson in the first round of qualifying.

Stevenson, 25 and on the comeback trail after a serious shoulder injury, won the match, which finished late on Tuesday, 4-6, 7-6 (6/4), 6-2, to dent Dokic's chances of resurrecting her own flagging career.

The American, who beat Dokic in the 1999 Wimbledon quarter-finals, was delighted to have got through a tough 2h 12min battle without any reaction from her shoulder.

"I was out for two years with my shoulder problem," she said. "I had surgery for it and now it is perfectly repaired."

Dokic, 23, is attempting to rebuild a career that once took her to the heights of...