Majoli targets top 10 spot

Iva Majoli was gracious and great in defeat.

"I want to be there among the top 10," she smiled after she had suffered a first round loss to 17-year-old Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova, late on Monday.

"I think I belong in the top 10 in the world. I was there once upon a time and I think I have to be there again," she asserted.

A shoulder surgery followed by an elbow injury did not help the Croatian cause very much as Majoli was sidelined for nearly two years from the WTA Tour.

"But all that's behind me now and I am healthy once again. I am playing well, it's only the confidence level that has to move up and then I will be able to achieve my goal this year," Majoli stated.

Making no excuses for an early exit from the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open, Majoli hoped that she will come off well in her next assignment at Indian Wells and the whole range of tournaments in the USA.

"But I realise that I also have to start winning games to get my confidence level up," Majoli said.
"It can be pretty frustrating to work so hard and then come and fail to make the best of your chances and end on the losing side," Majoli rued.

In the early dawn of her career, Majoli, then 20 years old, created a sensation when she went on to break top seed Martina Hingis' 33-week unbeaten run to clinch the 1997 French Open.

Nothing much has changed since then, as the Croatian insisted. "I am sure my game is still there. All I need to have a few wins under my belt and that will bring in the confidence and some more wins on the tour," Majoli concluded.