Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, December 5 (Reuters) - Jelena Dokic was the only notable absentee when entries closed on Wednesday for next month's Australian Open women's
championship.
The world number eight said last month she would skip the first grand slam of 2002 because it was ``too far away'' and she was also worried about the reception her
controversial father Damir might receive.
When the deadline passed on Wednesday, Dokic was the only active player in the world's top 100 not to have entered the January 14-27 tournament at Melbourne
Park.
The only top 100 players who did not enter were Nathalie Tauziat of France and Germany's Anke Huber, both of whom have retired.
Dokic and her father provided an intriguing sideshow to the usual order of tennis events at the 2001 January Open.
Damir Dokic
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They first accused organizers of plotting against them by rigging the draw when Dokic was drawn to face world number one Lindsay Davenport in the opening round, a match she subsequently lost.
Then they declared they were leaving their adopted homeland of Australia to live in the United States and play under the Yugoslav flag.
Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee told Reuters last month he would not be surprised if Dokic did not play.
"It doesn't come as a great shock. I knew it would be something she would have to think long and hard about," McNamee said.
The deadline for entry to the men's singles championship is December 17.
