Tennis: Classic's top star in shock pull-out

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Top drawcard Jelena Dokic has withdrawn from next week's international classic.

But her coach has raised the possibility of her playing an Auckland exhibition match next summer.

The organiser of the ASB Classic, Richard Palmer, was yesterday coming to grips with losing the face of his tournament.

"It hasn't been a great start," Palmer said.

"I first started having some concerns about 10 days ago when I made some phone calls to confirm her arrival time, but they wouldn't give any indication.

"Three days ago, there was the first strong hint she was unlikely to come.

"By late Thursday night, they [her coach and agents] said she would not be coming."

Dokic officially withdrew with the WTA Tour office yesterday, allowing Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues into the classic's main draw.

German Anca Barna becomes eighth seed, and Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi moves up to second seed in place of Dokic.

Asked the reasons for Dokic's late withdrawal, Palmer, said he was not at liberty to divulge anything.

Asked whether her father was part of the problem, Palmer said: "You said that, not me."

Palmer said he felt sorry for the 20-year-old, who has been ranked as high as No 4 in the world.

"She has no nationality and no place to call home. She has her past to deal with. That can't be easy.

"While we are obviously upset that she will not be here - and her coach has expressed strong disappointment for that - she still wants to return when the time is right."

In her only previous appearance at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre, Dokic played Steffi Graf in an exhibition.

Graf and Dokic, with Jennifer Capriati, Mary Pierce and sisters Venus and Serena Williams, are all WTA Tour players who have been affected by problem fathers.

While Palmer would not be drawn too deeply on the reasons for Dokic's decision, he said: "We can surmise she does not know who or where to turn."

Through her coach, Borna Bikic, Dokic said she enjoyed her time in New Zealand and "if everything comes right, I will definitely come back."

Palmer said her non-appearance would "cost the tournament."

He said certain things happened when marquee players such as Pierce and Anna Kournikova were used as the "face of the tournament."

"We will lose some sponsorship which had been built around her," Palmer said.

"That will cost us more than we have saved in her not being here.

"Sure, it is a blow, but these things happen. We still have a fantastic tournament."

Palmer said that because Dokic had withdrawn so late, he had not had time to look elsewhere for a big-name player.

"There are not many options at this late stage anyway."

Palmer did not know whether Dokic would still play in the Australian Open as planned.

"That is not my concern."

But it seems unlikely she will turn up in Melbourne after the tug-of-war she has faced before as her native Yugoslavia and Australia claimed her as their own.