Games boycott in prospect

"We discussed the matter at a players' meeting on Monday and I think there is a real chance of a boycott," Nathalie Dechy of France told the Globe and Mail of Toronto.

According to the newspaper report, Larry Scott, the chief executive of the WTA Tour was to arrive in Montreal - this week's stop on the WTA Tour - on Wednesday in an attempt to avert a boycott.

"We've been doing everything possible (to solve the problem)," Scott told the Globe and Mail.

"We're working with the ITF and with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and (IOC president) Jacques Rogge has been involved.

"But the final veto is with the German Olympic Committee because they name the players and they are not willing to budge.

"There is a real chance we won't be able to resolve the matter before the (entry) deadline at the end of the week.

"This is an injustice to our players, so we're lobbying the IOC and the German Olympic Committee to reverse their decision in the interest of our sport."

With the top 56 ranked players earning automatic entry into the Olympics, Barna and Weingartner, ranked 46th and 52nd respectively, qualify for Athens based on the ITF's criteria.

The German Olympic Committee, however, had its own criteria of reaching a semi-final of a Grand Slam or the final of a tier-one event, which neither player has met.

The situation is further complicated by the fact the WTA and ATP will award Tour ranking points based on the Olympic results.