[tennisIlove09]

...will it be protected by injury ranking? She's out until September (at least), and hasn't played since April. That's 5 months. She should skip all of September and not play again until October/November so she can have the injury ranking

 

[TatiAnnahølic]

I don't think to have protected ranking you need to be out 6 months...

 

[CJ07]

she'll probably do that

 

[TatiAnnahølic]

anyways a ranking of #70 won't will help too much...

 

[yukon145]

anyways a ranking of #70 won't will help too much...

Its better than 100 or something which it most likely will be after the summer hardcourt season because she had good results last year at this time.

 

[Venus Forever]

Anna doesn't need a protected ranking, she'll just get in with Wild Cards anyway.

 

[goldenlox]

I don't care where Anna is ranked when she comes back.
I just want her to come back healthy and play a full season.
Then she'll get her ranking back where it belongs.

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

Anna last played in Sea Island (week of May 5)
She can't get an injury ranking before November, basically end of season

And to be eligible for Gold Exempt Status for the new season you MUST be inside the Top 50 after the US OPEN.

Anna will only be eligible for 3 WC's for next season unless the WTA alter their rules.

a fully fit Anna won't have any problems coming back but whether we'll see a fit Anna again is another matter

 

[TatiAnnahølic]

I think she should comeback after THE uso, playing all the lower tier tournaments to get her confidence back again and the next year with a good show at the AO she can be top75 perfectly.

 

[mn73]

TBE: What would be the WTA's take on the fact she is playing World Team Tennis this month? Would they take the six months from Sea Island still?

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

WTT won't count
its not an official ranking event

doubles qualifying doesn't count either unless you qualify.
any tourn which you get 0 pts DOES NOT COUNT.

 

[Annarocks]

Her ranking won't matter....she can play Qualifying for tournaments....if she's healthy...she'll blow the competition away in qualifying!!

 

[wtn_amanda]

what will her protected ranking be?

 

[Dawn Marie]

A chronic back injury is no joke. That is some serious shit and if it is indeed as serious as it seems it can take her to early retirement. Back injuries are the highest cause of disabilty. Especially in younger individuals who can't work but who are in their early 20's to 30's.

U can't move, it is so painful. It would be best if she were indeed pregnant instead of having this chronic back injury. If indeed it is a chronic back injury, seeing as she is playing this WTT event.

 

[F-R-E-A-K]

oh well

 

[bello]

Anna K has been so lucky to not get a chance to prove critics wrong! She has always been full of talent, cant wait to see her play a full season!

 

[ajayares]

And to be eligible for Gold Exempt Status for the new season you MUST be inside the Top 50 after the US OPEN.

Anna will only be eligible for 3 WC's for next season unless the WTA alter their rules.

Well she is eligible for Gold exempt status next year, they altered the rules for the 2003 season to include players that have had a year end ranking inside the top 10.

However that means she is now eligible to receive one of the 4 WC's available, which are decided by the tournament directors (can't see her missing one of those 4 spots)

If she gets one of the 4 spots, it then depends on where she is listed on their list of 20 players. Listed between 1-13 gets you unlimited Gold exempt WC's (the one WC available at all tournaments) 14-20 means you have a limit of 3 GE WC's (Anna was listed at #11 this year) Plus to use the GE WC you have to be ranked inside the top 100.

However what I have mentioned above doesn't really matter, as long as she is listed on the GE list, she has unlimited WC, she just may not be able to access the GE one, but would be able to receive as many of the other WC's that are available, that's assuming the tournaments want to give her one, which may not be the case. (Very unlikely though)

Iva Majoli is an example of someone who has unlimited WC's (former GS champ) but that doesn't mean much unless tournament directors want her to play there event.

 

[wtn_amanda]

Wow smart

 

[ajayares]

smart move, they have to start finding people to fill up those positions
now that so many will probably start to retire during Olympics
hopefully Martina Hingis will be included in the exempt list..

Martina doesn't need to be included on this list, she already has unlimited WC's as a former GS champ. So if and when she makes a comeback she can play basically any event she wants, just as long as the tournament wants her and I can't see them not wanting her to play there event.

 

[tazban1]

I agree with people who say that she should just wait for injury protection.

The season is pretty much lost anyways. Also, Anna has a history of coming back too soon and it would be better for her to let herself heal - of course, that won't happen if she keeps over-practicing. Hopefully she's resting and getting therapy.