By Chris Davies
January 13 2003

Jennifer Capriati said in her press conference that if she wasn't defending champion she would have considered not even playing at the Australian Open. The shock defeat by Marlene Weingartner was put down to recent eye surgery. Capriati said that she had undergone eye surgery in November and wasn't fully recovered to defend her title.

"I would have to say the recovery time wasn't enough, and I feel like I just didn't give myself enough chance to fully prepare. Probably if I wasn't the defending champion, I wouldn't have showed up, and I probably should have considered that."

Also a lack of preparation was a big aspect of her losing possibly this week and last week at Sydney.

"I had the procedure done a week after I played in LA, and I had pterygiums removed in both eyes and I had stitches in both eyes. For two weeks, I mean, basically I was in the dark because I couldn't be in the sunlight because my eyes were too sensitive.
Then by, you know I'm having late practices. By the time I'm already on the practice court, it's like four weeks already, so. You know, I'm not trying to make excuses, that's for sure. But, no, I have to say it had a lot to do with my preparation for coming here."

Jennifer Capriati who is still looking for her first tournament win this year and also hasn't won a singles title for a year. The bottom half of the draw hasn now opened the way for some stars to emerge. Chances for Henin-Hardenne, Hantuchova, Davenport and Venus Williams have increased by this shock exit.