Oct 12, 2008, 9:37 GMT
Moscow - Impending world number two Dinara Safina has laid down a warning to the Women's Tennis Association WTA for the 2009 season - revisit the player tournament entry requirements or risk a possible boycott.
The Russian dropped her bombshell after exiting the Kremlin Cup in Moscow at the weekend, criticising new rules which come into force from January.
Under the revamping, leading players will be required to play at least ten top-level events plus four elite tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing. They must also enter lesser events, where the WTA has guaranteed seven of the top ten at each of those stops on the calendar.
Safin says the scenario is more than confusing and could lead to 'industrial action.'
'They said the leading players would have to play in designated tournaments while lower-ranked players would be able to enter any event they like. There's no logic in that at all,' said the Russian.
'What if all the top players choose to enter the same tournament? What will the WTA do then? We want to know.'
And she warned: 'If they (WTA) don't listen to what we have to say we might even choose to boycott the new tour. No one seems to understand which tournaments you can play and which you can't.'
While the WTA has not commented,matter could start coming to a head next week in Zurich as that top-tier tournament is held for the final time before being eliminated in the 2009 shake-up.
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