It looks like Capriati fell off the rankings this week since last year's Open points expired. The talk is that she won't be back this year, even though she is entered in the tournament in Austria this fall.

Does anyone know if the protected ranking system went away? It seems like the way it was abused over the last couple years that there was also some talk of doing away with it.

I think that the protected ranking has been done away with, but I'm not sure. Wasn't Clijsters ranked somewhere in the 130's earlier this year because of injuries? Of course she may not have been out long enough to get the protected ranking.

I think that injury ranking has been done away with but Jen has the talent to come back, body willing! Also, she's a big name and draws in crowds, so will be given wild cards wherever she wants to play!

It says she will come back at Linz but I think she should wait until the Aussie Open and just workout, lose weight and get ready for 2006! But, I think she has been because there's a modeling picture of her, taken around New Year's where she looks quite thin! Here it is!

http://www.isifa.com/functions/watermark/w...nummer=11037254

At the time I know Clijsters didn't qualify for a protected ranking because she hadn't been off the tour long enough; she had a brief comeback where she reinjured herself and she reset the clock.

Jen will definitely wild cards, particularly right out of the gate in Australia where she is a former champion 2x. I hope she makes it back to the tour--she definitely adds something to it!