Tennis: Dokic crashes out

Jelena Dokic faded after a good start. Ross Land / Getty Images

Former world number 4 Jelena Dockic has been knocked out in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland today.

Beaten 5-7 7-6 6-1 by unseeded German Julia Schruff, the 22-year-old Australian undid her winning shots by hitting 28 double-faults and 51 unforced errors during the match.

Dokic appeared frustrated from the start despite managing to win the first set after being down five games to four.

The second set was a tit-for-tat affair and ended up going to a tie-break, which Schruff won 7-3.

Errors came from both ends of the court during the match, but in the third and final set Dokic hit some wild returns as the more composed Schruff dominated to win it 6-1.

Unseeded Schruff is ranked 95th in the world.

Dokic was a wildcard entry into the tournament. Her ranking slipped to over 300 during the past couple of years as she battled personal problems and didn't play much tennis.

She had hoped to perform well in the ASB in an attempt to rediscover her earlier form and spark a tennis comeback.

The loss leaves Dokic with only next week's Canberra International as preparation for her first Australian Open appearance in five years.

Early Tuesday results:

Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) bt Catalina Castano (Colombia) 7-5 6-1
8-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) bt Paola Suarez (Argentina) 6-2 6-3
Julia Schruff (Germany) bt Jelena Dokic (Australia) 5-7 7-6 6-1
Yoon Jeong Cho (South Korea) bt Shahar Peer (Israel) 7-6 6-4
Laura Granville (United States) bt Shenay Perry (United States) 6-3 1-6 6-3
6-Marion Bartoli (France) bt Emilie Loit (France) 6-7 6-3 6-1

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF