Davenport Withdraws from Olympics

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 21 -- Defending champion Lindsay Davenportwithdrew from the Olympics today because of a foot injury, ending abid by the U.S. team for a medals sweep in women’s tennis.

Further tests were planned to determine whether the injury is astress fracture, and Davenport said she could be sidelined the restof the year.

Her withdrawal means there will be no rematch in the finalagainst second-seeded Venus Williams, who beat Davenport this yearto win Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles.

‘Devastating’

Davenport, seeded No. 1, sprained the outside of her left footlast month and aggravated the injury in a first-round win Wednesdayover Paola Suarez. Her withdrawal was announced just before she wasto take the court for a second-round match against Rossana De LosRios.

“To have to pull out of a tournament that’s probably thehighlight of my career, it’s devastating,” Davenport said.

She played through the injury at the U.S. Open and said shewasn’t concerned about it when she arrived in Sydney.

“I was feeling OK until I started practicing on these courts,”she said. “They’re stickier and harder on my foot than othersurfaces.”

Davenport said the foot was sore following her first-round matchand worse when she tried to practice this morning (WednesdayET).

“It was hard to put any weight on it,” she said.

Atlanta Was a Turning Point

Williams won her 28th match in a row Thursday, beating TamarineTanasugarn of Thailand 6-2, 6-3. Third-seeded Monica Seles beatMiriam Oremans of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-1.

U.S. captain Billie Jean King had talked of Davenport being partof a medals sweep.

“It’s a very sad moment she can’t defend her gold medalproperly,” King said.

Davenport is a second-generation Olympian, and her victory inAtlanta four years ago marked a career turning point. She has sincewon three Grand Slam titles and earned the No. 1 ranking.