Thanks for the rankings, Randy. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
According to Kaia's coach, Kaia can only play on 4 more pro events before turning 17, but after her 17th birthday, she will wrap up a junior circuit and start concentrating on challenger and WTA events.
Here is a short story on Kaia Kanepi. It's about a month old, and it's in Estonian, but I will translate parts of it. Enjoy! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <br /> <a href="http://www.epl.ee/uudised/artikkel.asp/G=3/ID=113710" target="_blank">http://www.epl.ee/uudised/artikkel.asp/G=3/ID=113710</a>
<br />Kaia Kanepi Went Through a Complete Medical Testing in Salzburg.<br />by Jaan Jürine
16 year old Kaia Kanepi went through a complete medical testing yesterday in Salzburg. Jaak Kanepi, Kaia's dad and manager, said that there is no reason to worry. At the moment, Kaia is practicing in Salzburg, where Austria's sports medicine center is located. Schweinfurt club in Germany, where Kaia belongs, used the opportunity and asked Kaia to go through a routine medical testing.
According to Jaak Kanepi, Kaia is in good health. She is practicing twice a day and has an opportunity to use good practice partners and even coaches if needed. The main goal for Kaia is to get used to hardcourts, and practicing in Austria is one step toward that goal.
In January, Kaia is hoping to play in Australian Open qualifications. Kaia's dad believes that Kaia's current ranking (201) should quarantee her a spot in quallies.
Kaia's earlier plans were to play in Florida in December. She planned to participate in Connolly Cup and Orange Bowl, but Kaia's parents and coach Tiit Kivistik decided to cancel the trip to USA and decided to head to Australia instead.
Kaia's coach said that it is time for Kaia to start wraping up the junior circuit. Of course, that will cause Kaia's junior ranking to drop, but since Kaia has already proved herself in junior circuit, it is time to put the main focus on women's tour. Before her 17th birthday, Kaia can play only 4 more pro events, and her coach is hoping that she will be able to get into a quallies in one of the tournaments before Australian Open.
Kaia's dad said that Kaia has not played for her Weissblau club yet. According to the rules, the club can only have one player who is outside of the Europen Union countries, and currently that player is Russian Tatjana Panova. Weissblau is very interested in Kaia, and they are hoping to start using Kaia in about a year or two. Weissblau also covered part of Kaia's training camp expenses. According to Kaia's dad, the main reason they are practicing in Austria is because there is only one decent hardcourt in Estonia.
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