Tamarine Tanasugarn is planning to rest till the American hardcourt season begins.

Tamarine eyes lengthy rest after Olympic snub

The resilient Tamarine Tanasugarn will have her eyes firmly fixed on the US Open after she was denied an Olympic wild card by the International Tennis Federation.

Despite her outstanding performance underlined by the WTA title in the Netherlands  and a Wimbledon quarter-final berth, the veteran was not among the Beijing Games privilege card receivers Alicia Molik of Australia, Maria Koryttseva of Ukraine, Taiwan's Yung-Jan Chan, Japan's Ayumi Morita, Nuria Llagostera-Vives of Spain and Tunisia's Selima Sfar.

The announcement came as a disappointment for Tammy who had hoped to enhance her portfolio by representing Thailand in her fourth straight Olympics. But she tried to look at the positive side as she can conserve all her energy for the year's last Major.

"I'm a bit sad at not being able to play in Beijing, which could be my last Olympics. On second thoughts, I can take a break and get ready for the US Open," said Tamarine who arrives today from London where she caused a stir after becoming the first Thai ever to reach a Grand Slam last eight.

After over a month of playing on the European tour with an arm injury, Tamarine was advised to take a fortnight break from tennis to allow her injured golf elbow to heal. She has already cancelled her participation in an American league tournament and will return to action in Los Angeles ahead of the US Open.

"I will stay home for two weeks and resume training one week before I enter the American hard courts. The run at Wimbledon is a good boost for me going into the US Open," said the national No 1 woman who will receive a celebrity reception when she touches down.