Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-06-18

(BEIJING, June 18) — Former World No 1 tennis player Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the Eastbourne International on Tuesday (June 17) due to a knee injury, raising doubts about her participation in the Wimbledon Championships which starts next week (June 23 – July 6.)

The 31-year-old American veteran has won three Grand Slam singles titles: the 1998 U.S. Open, 1999 Wimbledon Championships, and Australian Open in 2000, and was a singles Olympic gold medalist in Atlanta in 1996.

She took a break from competition in late 2006 and missed much of 2007 to have a baby but returned to the WTA Tour in August last year.

Although season began brightly as she won the first WTA tournament of the year, the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and a further trophy in Memphis, Tennessee in March, Davenport has played only seven tournaments in 2008.

She was knocked out of the Australian Open in straight sets by eventual champion Maria Sharapova, and pulled out of the French Open five days before the tournament began for undisclosed personal reasons.

“I’m very disappointed to be unable to compete at Eastbourne but I unfortunately injured my right knee in practice over the weekend and have been unable to recover in time,” said Davenport. “I look forward to it getting better and resting and, of course, being able to play next week at Wimbledon,” she added.

The Wimbledon Championships is Davenport’s favorite tournament — she has participated twelve times and besides her 1999 singles title victory, she has reached two further finals and two semifinals.

She has also stated her aim to compete in the Beijing 2008 OIympic Games.