ESPN Tennis

Jamea Jackson, one of the more promising young American women playing in a rebuilding era for the United States, will miss the Australian Open and at least several more weeks of the 2007 season after having minor hip surgery last month.

Jackson told U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Tim Curry that she underwent surgery to mend a cartilage tear caused by a bone spur in her right hip. The procedure was performed by Dr. Marc J. Philippon at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Jackson is doing rehab at home in Boca Raton, Fla., and said she expects to start hitting in February.

"Of course I am disappointed I won't be able to play in Australia, but I needed to take care of my body first," Jackson said in an e-mailed statement. "I am working hard in rehab every day and looking forward to returning to competition."

The 20-year-old Atlanta native finished last season at a career-high No. 45 and led the U.S. Fed Cup team to an upset win at Germany last April. Her absence subtracts from the already meager prospects for U.S. women at the Australian Open. No U.S. woman is seeded in the tournament for the first time in 30 years. The highest-ranked active U.S. woman on the WTA Tour is Meghann Shaughnessy at No. 40.

Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open with a nagging wrist injury. Her sister Serena, the event champion in 2003 and 2005, is the best-known American woman remaining in the main singles draw but played very little last season and finished at No. 95. Other U.S. women entered are Jill Craybas, Shenay Perry, Vania King, Laura Granville, Ashley Harkleroad, Meilen Tu and wild card Madison Brengle.

Bonnie DeSimone is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com.