Capriati enters last lap of fairytale year

Jennifer Capriati will be eager to end her fairytale year in style at next week's WTA Championships in Munich.

The former Masters event, which had been held in the United States since it began in 1972, could provide a fitting conclusion to Capriati's eventful season, with the 25-year-old American almost certain to end the year as world number one.

Capriati, who completed one of sport's greatest comebacks when she topped the rankings earlier this month, will head a high quality field in Munich's Olympic Hall from Tuesday.

She will be one of this year's top 16 qualified women, battling it out for $3 million in prize money.

Capriati, who was only 14 when she burst into the limelight but whose career was derailed when she lost interest in the sport and dabbled in drugs, has enjoyed a remarkable year, winning the Australian and French Open titles.

Venus Williams, to many the world's best player, also won two Grand Slams -- Wimbledon and the U.S. Open -- but her reluctance to play as many tournaments as her main rivals has left her fourth in the WTA tour rankings.

Her showdown with Capriati in the Bavarian city promised to be one of the highlights of the year-end tournament but the older Williams sister pulled out on Friday, saying she had a sore wrist.

"In view of Venus's repeated confirmations of intent to play...this is very disappointing news for the Tour, our title sponsor Sanex, the event's organisers, the Olympiahalle and the people of Munich," Tour chief executive Bart McGuire said.

Williams, who could stand to lose $140,000 in year-end bonus money because of her withdrawal, is the third top 10 player to drop out.

MISSING NAMES

Martina Hingis's season ended earlier this month when she underwent ankle surgery just after being knocked off the top of the rankings by Capriati. The Swiss player won the Championships last year when they were still held at New York's Madison Square Garden.

American Monica Seles will also be missing. She has stopped playing in Germany since being stabbed by a deranged fan in Hamburg in 1993.

Venus Williams's absence means local favourite Anke Huber qualifies.

The popular German, who plans to retire after one last Australian Open, will play her final tournament in her home country.

Former Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat of France, who has played a limited schedule in her 17th and final year on the professional circuit, will also bid farewell in Munich.

Seven of the top 10 players will compete, with in-form Lindsay Davenport and Venus's younger sister Serena, who has confirmed she will play, likely to give Capriati the toughest test.

Others to watch include rising Belgian teenagers Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

Capriati will play Bulgaria's Magdalena Maleeva in her first-round match in the tournament, which also features the world's top eight doubles pairs.