STRATEGIC medical time-outs during WTA Tour matches could be drastically reduced by a radical "user-pays" system planned for next year. The women's governing body intends to cap the number of times a player can call a trainer for an extended consultation and issue bills for any excess.

As prizemoney soars to record levels despite the potential bite of the global economic crisis, the financial penalties are unlikely to inflict excessive pain, ranging from $US100 ($152) per visit at smaller tournaments, such as the new Brisbane International in January, to about $US500 at the biggest, such as Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing.

The four grand slams, which are run by the International Tennis Federation, would be exempt from the cap, expected to be set at six or seven for the year. The ATP has no plans to introduce a similar system, but is likely to monitor its impact.

WTA senior vice-president of operations, Peter Johnston, said the "nominal" charges were designed to minimise the number of unwarranted time-outs, with the revenue to be reinvested in its sports science services.

"We understand that medical time-outs can be legitimate but we want to make sure that players are conscious of how many they're using up throughout the year, so we're looking to find a system of capping them during the season," said the former Australian Open deputy tournament director.

"It would trigger what we'd call a service fee. It's a sports science and health issue, so it's almost like a pay-per-view. You can keep using them, but you pay for them, and the amount would depend on the level of the event. It discourages the practice of 'I'm feeling a bit weary, I might take a medical time-out."'

The system could penalise the lower-ranked players with less capacity to pay than multi-millionaires such as Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters, but Johnston described the WTA's player council as "very supportive" of the concept, which was likely to be in place when the new season opens in Brisbane and Auckland.

On-court coaching - where a player can request their coach once each set - will be adopted permanently next year.

Meanwhile, former world No.1 Lindsay Davenport is not expected to contest January's Australian Open due to a knee injury. Former men's world No.9 Paradorn Srichaphan will return from a serious wrist injury when Thailand hosts Australia in a Davis Cup zonal tie in March.