INQUIRER Sports

MELBOURNE--Australia's former world No.4 Jelena Dokic won a wildcard into the main draw of next month's Australian Open here on Sunday.

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist, 25, outlasted fellow Australian junior Monica Wejnert, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-3 in just over two hours in the final of a playoff tournament for wildcard entry into the year's first grand slam.

Dokic said she will try to qualify for lead-up tournaments in Brisbane and Hobart over the coming weeks before taking her place in the field for the January 19-February 1 Australian Open.

Dokic, who has improved her ranking to 179, said that next year would be her final attempt at a comeback to the WTA world tour after admitting last year that she was on the verge of quitting the game.