Jankovic at No. 1 needs a wildcard???

Jelena Jankovic is currently ranked No. 1 in the world! Yet officials say she will have to request a wildcard to play in the Sydney International tournament which begins Jan. 11. It is a lead-up tournament to the Australian Open.

The tournament director, Craig Watson, claims it is because Jankovic has not yet finalized her 2009 playing schedule. I don’t get it. Wouldn’t you want the world No. 1 playing in your tournament regardless of whether or not she has told you what she plans to do the rest of the year? Jankovic has already played in this tournament four times. Yet Watson said, “If Jelena does decide that she would like to play in Sydney, then we would certainly consider her for a wildcard.”

Be considered for a wildcard? Come on! What’s the problem. I say if the world’s No. 1 player wants to play, let her play. Forget about “considering” her for a wildcard. Put her in the tournament already! That would certainly boost the tournment’s appeal. That fact that they have to first consider Jankovic for a wildcard is not very appealing!

Jelena, I hope you play in the tournament and slaughter everyone else who enters, just to show those officials what they might have missed!