Jelena Dokic’s comeback to tennis takes a bad turn with injury in 2nd round of French Open

Dokic’s comeback takes a bad turn at French Open

PARIS — Jelena Dokic’s professional comeback took a painful turn at the French Open.

The Australian was leading fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva in the second round of the tournament Thursday when she twisted her body into position for a backhand. Not too long after that, she retired from the match in tears.

“Don’t know what it is yet,” said Dokic, who reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open after a three-year absence from Grand Slam tennis. “It was very painful, and I just hope it’s not too serious.”

The withdrawal, with the unseeded Dokic leading 6-2, 3-4, sent Dementieva into the third round at Roland Garros along with Venus and Serena Williams, and Jelena Jankovic.

Roger Federer also made it through, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the third set on his least favorite surface to beat Jose Acasuso of Argentina 7-6 (8), 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2. Fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro and No. 6 Andy Roddick also advanced.

On Friday, four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal and third-seeded Andy Murray were scheduled to get back on court, as were Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic. Venus Williams, who completed a match Thursday that stretched over two days, was scheduled to play again Friday.

Dokic won the first set on Court No. 1 and look poised for another Grand Slam upset this year. But with the score 2-2 in the second set and Dementieva serving, the 26-year-old Dokic did something that caused her to call time.

“I went for a serve … and just went down and couldn’t come back up,” Dokic said.

She turned away from her opponent and grabbed at the lower part of her back. She then rested for a brief moment by using her racket as a crutch.

“I had no pain prior to that, and it just happened in the match,” said Dokic, who gingerly walked to her chair to wait for a trainer. “It’s the first time I’ve had a problem with this.”

Dokic left the court and returned a few minutes later to continue playing. She even broke Dementieva to take a 3-2 lead, but then sat in her chair during the changeover and cried into her towel.

The crowd tried to cheer her up by clapping for her, and Dokic returned for more, but was quickly broken back. Dementieva then held for a 4-3 lead, and Dokic quit shortly after.

Again crying, Dokic was consoled by Dementieva, who walked over to put a hand on her opponent’s shoulder.

“I really don’t deserve to win today because of the way I was playing,” Dementieva said. “She was playing so much better. I was much too passive on the court.”

Earlier in her career, the Yugoslavian-born Dokic battled depression and injuries — and a domineering father. She played her first Grand Slam tournament in 1999, and made the semifinals at Wimbledon a year later for her best result at a major tournament.

Her comeback started in Melbourne, where she beat three seeded players en route to the quarterfinals. She then lost to eventual finalist Safina.

Now, her immediate future is in doubt.

“I was supposed to play doubles tomorrow. I don’t think that will happen,” Dokic said. “I will go to have an MRI, which I will do early tomorrow morning, and then we’ll go from there.”

Federer reached the last three finals at Roland Garros, but the clay-court major remains the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments he hasn’t won.

Against Acasuso, Federer was far from his best. But after losing seven straight games at the end of the second set and beginning of the third, the second-seeded Swiss reeled off five straight to force another tiebreaker.

“Of course, I’m thrilled to be through,” said Federer, who saved four set points in the first tiebreaker. “It was sort of a fun match to be part of, with so many ups and downs.”