“Obviously, I didn’t expect to spend a second week here…” And yet.
At the age of 27, Océane Dodin, 95th in the WTA, became the second oldest French player to reach the round of 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time by knocking out her compatriot Clara Burel in the third round (6-2). , 6-4).
And will be one of the three French representatives in the round of 16, with the former Adrian Mannarino and the other French revelation of this Australian Open, the very young Arthur Cazaux.
“I know that when I am confident, I can be dangerous,” analyzes the Northerner exiled in Hérault.
Since arriving in Melbourne, I've tried not to worry and not expect much.
So far, it's working.
I have fewer expectations and more confidence in myself.
»
The presence of his firefighter friend in Montpellier, who also throws a few balls at him despite his approximate mastery of tennis, helps him to remain serene and relaxed.
Océane Dodin 🇫🇷 had not won a Grand Slam match elsewhere than at Roland-Garros since the US Open... 2017. Here she is in the round of 16 in Melbourne!
#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/f3ECmEvADH
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 20, 2024
Invited to Melbourne eight years ago, the Lille native won her first Major match there against the American Riske, then 40th in the world.
“A player who hits so hard so young, I've never seen one,” said Amélie Mauresmo, Murray's coach at the time.
I didn't know Mary (Pierce) at the same age, but she has a bit of the same profile.
She calls out, and it’s great for French tennis.
»
The dawn of a promising career for an extremely ambitious young girl with strong character and play, trained on the fringes of the federal system.
Frédéric Dodin, PE and tennis teacher (who always accompanies her) had a very specific plan for his tall, slender teenager.
Develop your physical abilities to allow you to shorten exchanges into two or three blocks, even if it means making points and making unforced errors.
“I’m not going to do chops…”
A style based on a devastating forehand and such aggression that the apprentice champion, who wore the same outfits as her hitting idol Maria Sharapova, even had difficulty finding opponents to prepare for.
Opting for his sparring partners as a whipping boy.
Which is still the case today.
“I have a game where even in training, I am not going to hold the ball for ten years (in the court), she whispered before facing her compatriot.
I definitely try to reproduce what I do in a match.
Girls don't like it.
» Impossible to patiently practice her ranges with the former resident of the top 50 (46th in 2017).
The Franco-French duel turned to the advantage of Océane Dodin!
The Lille native tells us about her match, and in particular her measured joy at the moment of the match point against her friend Clara Burel 🇫🇷#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ilYR8bMLrU
— FFT (@FFTennis) January 20, 2024
“She only sends you missiles from her line,” Burel smiles.
Of course it's not easy when you want to try to have rhythm and hit balls, it's difficult to adjust.
»
As the slogan says, without mastery, power is nothing.
After 2017, between injuries and unconfirmed talent, Dodin had to wait six years and the last Roland-Garros to win a Grand Slam match again.
So three in a row... To achieve the four in a row, the No. 5 tricolor will have to dismiss the Chinese Qinwen Zheng (No. 12) in the next round.
“I’ve already played it twice.
She beat me every time, but it was on clay.
She plays very well and is very aggressive, with a great serve, she explains.
I'm not worrying, I'm just going to try to be aggressive too.
Anyway, I’m not going to do chops…”