Jennifer holds lesson for Jelena

If Jennifer Capriati has delivered the happiest story of the year in women's tennis, Jelena Dokic is in danger of providing the most shocking.

I fear she will have a nervous breakdown before her father understands how horrendously destructive he is.

In Australia, we are used to people coming into the country and wishing to become citizens. We had never had anyone leave before, so when Jelena announced on the eve of the Australian Open in January that she was moving out of the country and going to play for Yugoslavia, there was a sense of devastation.

Clearly, this is the work of her father, Damir. He is a possessive and aggressive man and that is not healthy for any young woman.

He thinks he can control his daughter by getting her out of the Australian public eye. To my mind, this is his underlying motive for Jelena's switch of allegiance.

Jelena was a happy-go-lucky girl; now you can barely get a smile out of her. At 18, she has the pressure of the world on her, the pressure of providing for her family. It's extremely sad to see such a talented girl in such a state.

In contrast, Jennifer is playing tennis the way it should be played, having fun and taking enjoyment from the game. After surviving her own well-documented troubles as a teenager, she is now revelling in a second lease of life and has come virtually out of nowhere to win the last two Grand Slam titles, the Australian and French Opens.

She's playing like someone with nothing to lose. As someone said - and this is my favourite saying - 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.'

Stefano Capriati seems to have discovered, second time around, the balance between being Jennifer's father and her coach. Few parents manage that. I think Martina Hingis could be a better player if she gets someone to replace her mother, Melanie Molitor, as coach.

And Richard Williams' control over his daughters, Venus and Serena, is threatening to damage their careers. How many more times do we have to watch parents ruin their kids' chances of fulfilling their potential?

The lack of matches is beginning to hurt Venus and Serena. They must recognise they have to work hard - and that means playing tennis, not sitting at home studying or doing needlework.

I still feel Venus can do well, she's the greatest athlete in the women's game. Trust me, athleticism can take you a long way. I have been critical in the past of the general standard of fitness in women's tennis and I don't see too much improvement.

If Lindsay Davenport found another 20 per cent fit-ness, she'd be simply unstoppable. As it is, Capriati is having the time of her life. And, smiling too.