MELBOURNE - Troubled Jelena Dokic was booed off the center court after being beaten, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, by women's defending champion Lindsay Davenport at the Australian Open.
17-year-old Dokic was given a cool reception when she walked out at the start of the match after announcing at the weekend that
she planned to turn her back on Australia to play under the Yugoslav flag.
But she left to a chorus of boos when she stormed off without a parting wave following her 97-minute defeat by her American opponent.
``I expected a lot worse so I didn't let it bother me,'' Dokic said.
Dokic has complained about her treatment by media and officials in her adopted home in Australia.
The teenager, whose father Damir is banned from attending her matches because of bad behavior, looked to be on her way to a major upset when she fought back from 3-1 down to take the opening set.
But Davenport squared the match, then took the final set to secure victory and advance to a second-round meeting with Germany's Greta Arn.
``Starting off against a great opponent in really unusual circumstances definitely made it a bit more challenging than normal matches,'' Davenport said.
- REUTERS
Dokic to turn her back on Australia
