Game Over As Pregnant Davenport Pulls Out Of Open

The Age

Friday December 15, 2006

LINDA PEARCE

LINDSAY Davenport has often discussed her desire to trade tennis for motherhood, and the three-time major winner is about to get her wish.

Davenport, who is expecting her first child, seems certain to have played the last match of an exceptional, yet relatively understated 14-year career.

From a local perspective, the announcement of Davenport's pregnancy represents the first major withdrawal from next month's Australian Open, although the 2006 top seed is not the force she once was, having finished an injury-ravaged year ranked 25th and without a grand slam singles title since her 2000 success at Melbourne Park.

A news release issued by her agent, IMG's Tony Godsick, on Wednesday confirmed that Davenport, 30, was due to give birth early in the US summer, while Australian Open officials were told of her withdrawal yesterday morning.

There was no indication whether Davenport - who married investment banker Jonathan Leach in April, 2003 - plans to play professionally again, but that would seem unlikely, given that she has openly pondered retirement for the past two years.

Before the US Open, Davenport specifically asked tournament officials that she not be feted, Andre Agassi-style, or even interviewed on court after her last match because she was uncertain of her future.

Davenport won 51 singles titles and 36 in doubles and ended four seasons at No. 1 - 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005. As well as the Australian Open, she claimed the 1998 US Open title and Wimbledon in 1999, having broken through to win an Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Early in her career, the Californian battled weight and confidence issues, but was one of the game's hardest, cleanest and flattest ball-strikers.

Davenport won 21 of 29 singles matches in what looms as her final season, reaching the last eight at the Australian and US Opens. She missed the French and Wimbledon with a back injury that sidelined her from April to August.

She lost the No. 1 ranking after losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne in Melbourne in January.

Her earnings of $27,678,131, were second behind Steffi Graf on the all-time prizemoney list. It should be a well-furnished nursery.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT

BORN June 8, 1976

Palos Verdes, California

LIVES Laguna Beach, California

HEIGHT 189cm

WEIGHT 79kg

TURNED PRO 1993

SINGLES TITLES 51

DOUBLES TITLES 36

MAJOR TITLES 3

1998 US Open 1999 Wimbledon 2000 Australian Open (pictured)OLYMPICS champion 1996

PRIZEMONEY $27,678,131

YEAR-END WORLD No. 1

2005, 2004, 2001, 1998

© 2006 The Age

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