Back Injury Outs Davenport

The Age

Wednesday June 21, 2006

LINDA PEARCE, LONDON, With AGENCIES

LINDSAY Davenport, a former Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from this year's championships because of a back injury, while Chris Guccione, tipped by his Davis Cup captain as a potential Wimbledon winner, has failed to reach the second round of qualifying on an otherwise encouraging opening day for the Australians.

Only three former women's champions - Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams - remain in the Wimbledon draw after Davenport, the 1999 titleholder and current world No. 6, advised organisers she would be joining fellow American Serena Williams (knee) and Mary Pierce (foot) on the absentee list.

Davenport, 30, has not played since aggravating her back at Indian Wells in mid-March. Former men's No. 1 Carlos Moya also withdrew on Monday, citing a shoulder injury.

Australia's bid to extend its men's singles presence beyond Queen's Club champion Lleyton Hewitt and late wildcard recipient Mark Philippoussis started promisingly, with first-round wins to 24th seed Peter Luczak, Wayne Arthurs, Nathan Healey, Alun Jones and Robert Smeets. At least one Australian will go through to the next round after Luczak was drawn to play Arthurs overnight, Melbourne time.

The casualties were Guccione and Luke Bourgeois, who lost 6-4, 7-6 (2) to Arthurs.

? Elena Likhovtseva of Russia upset eighth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in the first round of the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne, while sixth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat British wildcard Katie O'Brien 6-3, 6-1.

Nathalie Dechy set up an all-French clash with top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo by overcoming Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-4.

Australian No. 1 Sam Stosur continued her indifferent form with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Slovak Jarmila Gajdasova.

? Jan Vacek, the 245th-ranked Czech, yesterday took full advantage of his "lucky loser" entry into the Red Letter Days Open grasscourt tournament in Nottingham by upsetting top-seeded Thomas Johansson 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (9-11), 6-4. Vacek will next face Giles Simon of France, who beat Igor Kunitsyn of Russia, 6-4, 6-3.

? Julien Benneteau of France beat Australia's Joseph Sirianni 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Ordina Open in the Netherlands. Defending champion Mario Ancic of Croatia beat Pakistani qualifier Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (0-7), 7-5.

In the women's event, Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek upset third-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-3 to move into the second round. The 17-year-old Krajicek will next play defending champion Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic, who ousted Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-4, 6-3. -- With AGENCIES

© 2006 The Age

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