I saw today that she's pulled out of the Pilot Pen tournament citing her rehab from surgery...that's just one week before the US Open. If that's a sign that she's going to be missing the open as well, she'll have essentially been out the entire year. Given that she turns thirty next year, you have to wonder whether she will return.

I hope so! Next to the Williams' and Monica, she is my favorite player! Maybe she's just being extra cautious! Except for the shoulder, maybe all this time away from the game has given her a few years back that Lindsay and Pierce, for example, don't have because they played through!

Maybe she'll regroup and we'll see her at the Aussie Open 2006! She should have injury protected rankings, right?

Injury protected rankings are no more, that's why Justine and Kim have been battling players in the top ten so early in tournaments.

I just have a gut feeling that Capriati is done. And Monica too. Sorry, kids.

I too, have always been a Capriati fan, and hope she can try to make some sort of comeback, but as pointed out, at 30, time is working against her now unfortunately.

I admire JCap as well. How can you not admire a chick who's so in touch with her inner truck driver? Plus I've learned new swear words by reading her lips during her matches. My guess is we'll see her give it one more try. Monica, however, is clearly not returning, and that's too bad for all of us.

Also in the group of American women around 30 with Jennifer, Monica, and Lindsay, is Chanda Rubin. She was injured right after the US Open last year and has made a very un-inspired comeback attempt this year--entering a few tournaments and then not playing them. If Lindasy retires in the near future, this awesome group from the 90s may be all gone.

Yeah, the Rubin thing is sad. She was playing so well last year. I miss her!

It is interesting that Davenport, of all that group, is the last woman standing, so to speak, as she was also one of the oldest to turn pro. Certainly not all of Capriati's problems have been physical, but even the emotional/psychological issues might be traced to turning pro at 14 (15?).

JenCap has three slams under her belt--I just don't see her having the motivation to make a comeback at this point. In her big comeback a couple of years ago, it was clear that she was trying to max out the potential everyone knew she had. Same with Seles. Both know they have hall of fame careers at this point, so how desperate are they going to be to make a comeback?

I'd put Lindsay in the same boat, but I think she knows that she has one more slam in her if she gets the right draw and is uninjured.

Capriati will miss the US Open.

Bummer! She'lll be the only slam winner of the past five years who is not entered (at least as of today!).

I saw Chanda Rubin's name in the results from Ohio today and thought of you all. Unfortunately, she lost to Hantuchova. But it looks like the second set was close.

I read about Jens injury. Bummer. Its almost like the light at the end of the tunnel, may be beginning to start to fade for her. Unfortunately.

off topic here. But Alexandra Stevenson is now playing in the USTA Tour. The minor leagues of pro tennis.

And she's not doing it for the same reason Agassi played the Challenger Circuit. He did it to work on his game. She's doing it because she has no other choice.

I wonder where her claims of racial discrimination are now? Isn't she gonna say that she's in the minors cause she's black?

Jelena Dokic may soon be joining her, as she's using wild card entries to get into ITF events these days.

For that matter, Agassi would have needed wild cards to get into ATP events when he was playing the challengers. He was outside the top 100.

[ July 21, 2005, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: JC ]

Stevenson's been out for pretty much a year with shoulder surgery, so it's not entirely off-topic, seeing as how Jen is recooping from shoulder surgery as well.

From what I've read, Stevenson's looking at this as starting over. It really depends on how well her shoulder holds up - because all she's ever had is a big serve. She'll need to be 100% capable of serving those big bombs if she's going to get back into the Top 50. I don't think she's a very bright girl, though; she still talks of winning Slams and compares herself to her "friends" Venus and Serena, as if she's in their league by association. Meanwhile, outside the serve, Stevenson's game is really horrendous. She does not bend her knees at all and her backhand is hideous. I suppose all tennis pros dream of winning Slams, but she should really focus on improving her overall technique first.

We must all remember that even though Jenn is heading toward her 30's, she was out of the game for almost 2.5 years. That's a big difference in her age 29 and Lindsay D at age 29. Cappy still have a few good years ahead if she can get healthy. In my opinion, she still has the best ground game in the biz. Very athletic, can scrap and has deep hard groundies. She doesnt hit as hard as Lindz or the Willies, but she can get it up there when needed. Plus, she is one of the best fighters on tour. I think she will be back.. never count her out.

Stevenson, Lucic, Dokic...players who started off so well, then faded.

Good points about Capriati's ground game, basketballfan, and I suppose if JennyCap decided to commit herself to another run then she could post some interesting results. I don't think she'll win another slam, but granted I am not a big fan of hers, so that could be some bias talking.

If I had to pick the best ground game in the business though - you know, groundstrokes and only groundstrokes - I'd pick Elena Dementieva.

Capriati can generally hit the ball hard and deep without making too many errors, but sometimes she plays too defensively. I'm thinking of her match against Elena Dementieva at the US Open last year, where Jen just didn't go for her shots. Elena's ground game might be the best when she's on (she needs great groundstrokes and speed to compensate for that serve!), but she's not very consistent. I think you'd have to consider both Belgians and Serena (in peak form) as well. It's a tough call.

Elena Dementieva does have an amazing ground game. I would love for her to really up that serve. I dont think it will ever be a weapon that she can rely on, but she can certainly work on it and it be consistent.
Speaking of ground game... im looking forward to this years hard court season. I think that with Venus coming back and playing well, Davenport is always tough on this surface, the Belgium/ Russian girls being tough, this could be a very good US Open.
I went to a challenger tournment recently and saw Ashley Harleroad(sp?). I know she recently had some injuries and is trying to work her way back, but she looked good. She was hitting well and looked to be in very good shape. I hope she can come back at least into the top 30 or so.

The thing I find most frustrating about Dementieva's serve is not the lack of pace, but the lack of control. If she could just get the damn thing in the court, it would help. Myskina doesn't have that much pace on her 2nd serve, either.

Jenny's my favorite, and I was sad to hear she is still not ready to return. I certainly hope she is using this time to try and pull herself together. She was so overweight and it was causing her self confidence to flag and it is was so evident on the court. She got herself in good positions and then just played not to lose instead of to win and that doesn't work with the big girls, or even Dementieva. I just saw a photo of Jenn this she just did which is really amazing. If it isn't airbrushed within an inch of its life, then it certainly says great things for her, at least on some level. I'll try and link it.

web page

[img]http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread....23&page=1&pp=40[/img]

Oh, ok, I'm computer illiterate, but take it from me if was a completely stunning picture of Jennifer that you would not believe. I just wish I knew how to post it. It's in some book called 2005 Athletes or something like that. And all I know is that I want that photographer on permanent retainer. If he can make Jenny look like that, there is hope for all of us.

I thought I saw a news story stating that Capriati would return to the tour in October, but now I can't find it.

If she's not coming back for the Open then I think she might be better served to sit out the rest of the year and come back strong and rested for the Aussie Open. I don't know all the specifics so maybe she hasd alot of points to defend in the fall. If she does then maybe she should come back; otherwise I say wait.