Jetstar signs Jelena Dokic in $1m sponsorship deal

[Phillippe M]

Jetstar signs Jelena Dokic in $1m sponsorship deal
Herald Sun - January 30, 2009 12:01am

JELENA Dokic has capped the spectacular comeback that won her a top-100 ranking in women's tennis and a wad of prizemoney with a $1 million sponsorship. Dokic, 25. has signed a three-year-contract - her first in seven years - to become the new face of budget airline Jetstar.

As part of the deal she will receive free flights to all venues in Australasia, the Herald Sun reports.

Details of the contract are being negotiated, but Dokic is not expected to appear in television ads.

Dokic was considering offers from several companies wishing to cash in on her Australian Open comeback, IMG manager David Malina said.

This week Dokic posed for Jetstar publicity photos in front of Melbourne's skyline.

She won huge public support as she played her way into the quarter-finals, finally bowing out this week to world No. 3 Dinara Safina.

The match was a TV ratings winner with 3.2 million viewers tuning in.

Dokic won the hearts of fans with her fighting spirit and openness about her past troubles: depression, weight gain and a short-lived retirement that all stemmed from family estrangement brought on by her volatile and overbearing father Damir.

In a frank interview after her heartwarming run to the quarter-finals, Dokic on Wednesday recalled the other life-changing week when her competitive instincts stopped her from putting away the racquet for good two years ago.

Her comments have drawn offers from women's magazines, but it is believed Dokic has rejected them.

Next week Dokic joins fellow Aussie Samantha Stosur at the Federation Cup in Perth.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/...014090,00.html