Davenport mum on retirement
2008-08-09 21:54
Beijing - America's Lindsay Davenport on Saturday said she hoped to be fit for this month's US Open after pulling out of the Olympic tennis singles injured, but had not decided if it would be her last tournament.
The 32-year-old former world number one and 1996 gold medallist resumed playing last year after giving birth to her first child with the specific goal of playing the Olympics and her home Grand Slam.
She withdrew from the singles draw on Friday with a nagging knee injury but remains in the doubles competition with South African-born Liezel Huber.
"I'm pretty hopeful I'll be okay there especially with the schedule which is definitely not as hard on the body as it is here," Davenport said.
"I think there's a very good chance I'll be there. I very much want to be there."
Davenport said she would make a decision about her future after the US Open, which starts on August 25. She earlier said she had "no plans" beyond the tournament.
"After the US Open I'll take some time off and spend some time with my family and kind of see how it goes," she said.
"The last few years I've based my decisions on how I feel and that will be the same in September and October when I take some time off."
The six-foot-two-and-a-half (1.89m) Californian won her first singles title in 1993, aged just 16, and went on to win Grand Slams in three consecutive years at the US Open (1998), Wimbledon (1999) and the Australian Open (2000).
She returned to the circuit in September after giving birth to baby Jagger last June and has won in Auckland and Memphis this year, taking her career total to 55.
Davenport, whose father Wink played volleyball for USA at the 1968 Olympics, picked up the knee problem playing in Eastbourne in July and was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after winning her first match.
"For 14 or 15 months it's been my whole goal to be here and be able to compete," she said.
"Of course there's disappointment. I knew coming here there was a little bit of a chance it may happen.
"Having said that I'm thrilled to be playing doubles. I think we have a very good chance."
- AFP