Belgian star Kim Clijsters's wrist injury continues to keep her off
the courts, with the former world No.1 officially out of next month's
Australian Open.

When yesterday's deadline for entries into the first grand slam
tournament of 2005 passed, Clijsters was the most notable omission in
the women's draw.

As expected, Jelena Dokic will miss the Melbourne Park tournament for
the fourth consecutive year. With her ranking at 127, Dokic is well
outside the women's cut-off of 109 for direct entry into the main
draw.

Also, four-time champion Monica Seles, who has not played since
losing a first-round match in last year's French Open, has failed to
enter because of an injured left foot.

But Seles and tennis great Martina Navratilova - who will be in
Melbourne for the open - are expected to play two exhibition matches
in New Zealand in February.

Clijsters's troublesome wrist has already kept her out of the past
three grand slam events. She made a brief return in early October but
was forced to retire during a tournament in Belgium.

Late last week Clijsters wrote on her website that she was still
having physiotherapy for the left-wrist injury.

Her absence from the open also means Clijsters will miss the frenzy
that was likely to ensue had she come after her October split with
her former fiance, Australia's world No.3 Lleyton Hewitt. Australian
Open chief executive Paul McNamee said he hoped Clijsters would
return to Australia and the tournament.

Despite Clijsters's absence, the centenary open has still attracted
the biggest names in the sport.

Newly crowned world No.1 Lindsay Davenport will come to Australia, as
will Serena and Venus Williams.

Then there is the Russian invasion, led by French Open champion
Anastasia Myskina, Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova and the US Open
champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, who has spent much of this
year battling a virus, has entered the tournament.

Australian Alicia Molik, who has a world ranking of 13, will be
seeded and her compatriots Samantha Stosur, Nicole Pratt and wildcard
recipient Evie Dominikovic are all part of the main draw.

Under ATP rules, all men are automatically entered into all four
grand slam events and so far there have been no withdrawals from the
tournament.

In ranking terms, the top 102 men will move into the main draw.
Australian Mark Philippoussis, who returned to his home town of
Melbourne this week to train for the open, is 109th in the world
rankings.

Although the 28-year-old could still gain direct entry into the open
if others withdraw, he does not have to worry as McNamee has already
guaranteed Philippoussis a wildcard, if needed.