Lindsay Davenport to withdraw from Wimbledon

(BEIJING, June 27) -- Former champion world Lindsay Davenport has been forced to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon due to a knee injury.

The former World No.1 won the Wimbledon Championships in 1999 and was this year's No. 25 seed. In the first round, she defeated Renata Voracova 2-1 (6-3, 5-7, 6-3), but after the match, the 31-year-old American underwent a MRI scan which showed some inflammation and fluid behind the knee.

She withdrew from the Eastbourne International last week and pulled out of the French Open in early June just five days before the tournament began for undisclosed personal reasons.

She took a break from competition in late 2006 and missed much of 2007 to have a baby but returned to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour in August last year.

Although her season began brightly with tournament wins in Auckland, New Zealand, and Memphis, USA, Davenport had played only seven tournaments in 2008 prior to Wimbledon.

Her second round opponent was due to be Gisela Dulko of Argentina, who is now into the third round due to Davenport's withdrawal.

Davenport, Atlanta Olympic gold medalist in 1996, has also stated her aim to compete in the Beijing 2008 Games.