USopen'03day11

THE SCOOP: US OPEN, DAY 11

Seles won't play until next year
Qatar Tennis Federation buys Scottsdale women's tournament

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM THE US OPEN – Monica Seles is still on the mend from stress fractures in both her feet and won't play until the '04 Australian Open at the earliest, the nine-time Grand Slam champion told tennisreporters.net.

Attending the US Open to do a sponsor event for American Express, Seles – who has been out since Roland Garros in early June – said that she is still unable to run and practice and that her feet need another two-and-a-half months to heal. However, the two-time US Open champion added she isn't planning on retiring.

"I don't want to go out this way," the 29-year-old Seles said. "Playing the Australian Open is my goal, but if that doesn't work out, I'll probably return in Miami" in-mid March.

Seles is kicking herself for missing a chance to compete in this year's US Open, which is without the injured Williams sisters for the first time since 1996. "Have you seen this draw?" Seles said. "There's not going to be another one like this for at least another five years."

Qatar Tennis Federation buys Scottsdale women's tournament
The Qatar Tennis Federation has purchased and will move the Scottsdale women's Tier II tennis tournament to Doha, Qatar, beginning next year. The Scottsdale women's tournament was scheduled to be played concurrently with the men's pro tournament there March 1-7 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona.

"While we are disappointed that the women will not be playing in Scottsdale , we think the move to Qatar provides new options for women's tennis," said Peter Tatum, IMG Vice President Western Region Events. "Scottsdale is a terrific tennis community, and we look forward to continuing to expand our 13-year-old men's ATP event." Tatum told tr.net that IMG fetched a high price for the event.

The tournament immediately precedes the 10-day combined men's and women's events in Indian Wells, Calif., which IMG also owns.