Mauresmo, Serena give Open stomach pangs.

Mauresmo, Serena give Open stomach pangs
Paul Malone
05jan05

KIM Clijsters out, Lindsay Davenport in and Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo both under a fitness cloud.

Those was the injury updates yesterday that muddied an already confused picture of Australian Open women's title calculations.
Officials yesterday received the end to Clijsters' wrist injury saga they had been expecting for weeks, when Open chief executive Paul McNamee said he was certain the Belgian would not be asking for one of the four women's wildcards left to be awarded by Tennis Australia.

Clijsters left open the possibility she would ask for a wildcard by making no comment over the Christmas break.

But indications yesterday from the WTA Tour were that she is set to return in a European tournament next month.

World No. 1 Davenport, who withdrew from this week's Hopman Cup because of shoulder soreness, has confirmed she will play in the Sydney International next week.

But world No. 2 Mauresmo's Open campaign is under scrutiny after she withdrew from a exhibition event starting in Hong Kong yesterday because of a stomach muscle strain.

Serena Williams, joint Open women's favourite along with defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, will play doubles only in Hong Kong.

Williams told organisers she had not recovered from the stomach muscle strain that cost her any hope of winning the WTA Championships final against Maria Sharapova in November.

Mauresmo and Serena Williams have not entered a tournament in Australia next week.

"I've had an abductor problem which has come and gone and prevented me from playing in a few tournaments towards the end of the season," Mauresmo said.

"I thought the injury would heal after a few weeks' rest, but when I started my pre-season training, I started feeling the same pains as before."

Mark Philippoussis moved within two places of direct entry for the Open yesterday when crowd-pleasing Younes El Ayanoui became the latest men's withdrawal, because of a foot injury. McNamee has assured Philippoussis he will receive a wildcard should he need one.

Clijsters' absence is good news for a young Australian.

Fifth-ranked Australian Tiffany Welford, No. 278 in the world, is next in ranking order to receive a ticket to what would be her grand slam debut.

Hopefully Lindsay's withdrawal from Hopman Cup was precautionary and she can win in Sydney and Melbourne :D

But world No. 2 Mauresmo's Open campaign is under scrutiny after she withdrew from a exhibition event starting in Hong Kong yesterday because of a stomach muscle strain. "I've had an abductor problem which has come and gone and prevented me from playing in a few tournaments towards the end of the season," Mauresmo said.Can they tell the difference between an abductor (thigh) problem and abdominal problem? :rolleyes: :tape: Anyway, I think she'll be fine for the AO :)

Serena is only playing doubles in Hong Kong?????

I never knew this, Get Well Soon Serena :hug:

There's a bad joke in there somewhere, but I think I've already used it :lol:

Neither was scheduled to play a tournament before the AO anyway, so lets hope they both just being overly cautious.

Is there any update on Jen's status?

Serena should probably skip the AO if her injury is anything close to what Venus endured.

Good news for Lindsay. Bad news for Kim :(

Serena & Justtine are the favourites? :eek:
Based on what?? ;) Good reputation?? lol

Anyway, hopefully Amelie & Serena both will be Ok, and I'm sure Lindsay will be there! :)
Sad about Kim through! :( That will be 4th missed slam in a row for her! :(

Serena & Justtine are the favourites? :eek:
Based on what?? ;) Good reputation?? lol

Anyway, hopefully Amelie & Serena both will be Ok, and I'm sure Lindsay will be there! :)
Sad about Kim through! :( That will be 4th missed slam in a row for her! :(
Well, Lindsay does have a reputation of falling short when it comes to making slam finals these days :( She is the world number 1 and they're usually the faves, so I dont know whats going on there.

This definitely does not look good for Serena. The YEC was in November, and she's still having trouble??? Looks like she might pull out of the AO yet again.

This definitely does not look good for Serena. The YEC was in November, and she's still having trouble??? Looks like she might pull out of the AO yet again.

It's a stomach strain similar to what Venus
had so it's no surprise whatsoever that
she still hurting.

I think she'll still try and play
the OZ Open but we'll see.

I hope she plays if she's healthy enough to play.
However, seeing as how she has nothing to defend
until Miami, she'll be fine ranking wise should she choose
to skip the OZ Open and whatever eslse until she's healthy enough.

I think it Serena doesn't feel 100%, she should not play. As Kabukle said, she has nothing to defend until March so not playing will not hurt her rankingswise. Mauresmo, on the other hand, has QF points to defend, so if she doesn't play, she may fall in the rankings, but her health comes first.

Lindsay made my day. :D

It's a stomach strain similar to what Venus
had so it's no surprise whatsoever that
she still hurting.

I think she'll still try and play
the OZ Open but we'll see.

I hope she plays if she's healthy enough to play.
However, seeing as how she has nothing to defend
until Miami, she'll be fine ranking wise should she choose
to skip the OZ Open and whatever eslse until she's healthy enough.

You're right, didn't think about that. :D Get your rest girl. But it also wouldn't hurt for her to get some extra points at OZ. She most likely would at least make the QF since she made all QF or better in all of the tourneys she entered in 2004, with the exception of Linz and Charleston both of which she was injured in.

Are they saying that Justine will be playing doubles as well??

Are they saying that Justine will be playing doubles as well??

She could barely play singles why would she play doubles to drain what little energy she has.

amélie get well soon!! :hug: :bowdown:

I don't think Amelie will pull out, she really wants THIS slam and has said she wants to go fresh into it.

She could barely play singles why would she play doubles to drain what little energy she has.

Well, at least Justine doesn't have to deal with those pesky headaches and abdominal strains.

I thought fashion week was over already...

Can they tell the difference between an abductor (thigh) problem and abdominal problem? :rolleyes: :tape: Anyway, I think she'll be fine for the AO :)
I bet she means internal or external oblique which abducts and rotates the trunk of your body...

Well, at least Justine doesn't have to deal with those pesky headaches and abdominal strains.

I thought fashion week was over already...

You are truly one fucked up human being trivializing Serena's injury.

And then people wonder why some Williams sisters fans don't like other players or fans of them.

:eek: Mon dieu!! This guy must have gone to a good New Year's Eve party! ;) Not only has Amélie's abducter problem turned into an abdominal one, but Lindsay surely withdrew from the Hopman Cup with a sore knee, not a sore shoulder didn't she? :confused:

Thanks for the article though Grand Slam! :)

you don't really take withdrawals from exhibitions just before a major too seriously.

Hopefully it's just precautionary and all will be back fit and strong for Sydney/AO ('specially Lindsay! :D)

Well, at least Justine doesn't have to deal with those pesky headaches and abdominal strains.

I thought fashion week was over already...

No she doen't but she has to deal with some kind of STD that she probably will not be able to get rid of. At least an abd strain can heal, and a headache will eventually go away. :devil:

you don't really take withdrawals from exhibitions just before a major too seriously.Exactly! :yeah:

You are truly one fucked up human being trivializing Serena's injury.

And then people wonder why some Williams sisters fans don't like other players or fans of them.


tell that to sandanborg, maybe he/she will had a hint.

There's a bad joke in there somewhere, but I think I've already used it :lol:

Neither was scheduled to play a tournament before the AO anyway, so lets hope they both just being overly cautious.


Same here Griffen. Cloud? Seems more like typical pre-GS
smoke screen tactics.

:eek: Mon dieu!! This guy must have gone to a good New Year's Eve party! ;) Not only has Amélie's abducter problem turned into an abdominal one, but Lindsay surely withdrew from the Hopman Cup with a sore knee, not a sore shoulder didn't she? :confused:

Thanks for the article though Grand Slam! :) That's what was originally given, but now all articles are saying it was a sore shoulder.