The Main Draw of the women’s tournament in Miami has been released. Ashley Harkleroad is playing Alicia Molik in the first round. Harkleroad has not played tennis in more than a year. I know she took time off to have a baby, but how is it that she is in the main draw, but not as a qualifier and not as a wild card entry? Why doesn’t she need wild cards like Clijsters and Henin when they came back from substantial time off from pro tennis?
Ashley Harkleroad left the tour in July 2008 and gave birth to a son in March 2009. She is entering the tournament with a protected ranking. A protected ranking is where a player with a doctor-confirmed injury or illness is protected in the rankings for a certain period of time while the player recovers. In Harkleroad’s case, her ranking was protected while she took a maternity leave.
Clijsters and Henin retired voluntarily so they do not qualify for a protected ranking.
Ashley Harkleroad left the tour in July 2008 and gave birth to a son in March 2009. She is entering the tournament with a protected ranking. A protected ranking is where a player with a doctor-confirmed injury or illness is protected in the rankings for a certain period of time while the player recovers. In Harkleroad’s case, her ranking was protected while she took a maternity leave.
Clijsters and Henin retired voluntarily so they do not qualify for a protected ranking.
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She sent nude photos to the tournament director.
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She got a protected ranking.
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