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Davenport may skip Olympics

Former Olympic champion Lindsay Davenport could skip this year's Athens Games because of security fears.

Published on: May 30, 2004, 21:02:00 IST
PTI | By , Paris
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Former Olympic champion Lindsay Davenport could skip this year's Athens Games because of security fears.

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The American says reports suggesting Athens could be a target for terrorism had caused her to rethink her plans.

"It's an awkward feeling going somewhere where maybe Americans aren't really wanted," the former world number one said following her 6-1 6-3 defeat by Elena Dementieva in the fourth round of the French Open on Sunday.

"I would say at this point (in 2003) I was a hundred percent (sure I was going to play but in) the last few months, it's just been a different kind of feeling.

"I'm definitely down a little bit on that percentage about going. Some of that's safety, some of that's all the tennis coming up this summer, just trying to be healthy the whole year.

"I've got to make that decision in the next week, probably before they name the team."

Three bombs exploded outside a police station in Athens earlier this month, just 100 days before the Games get under way on August 13.

Davenport, who won gold in Atlanta in 1996, conceded that, had she not already tasted success at the Olympics, she might have been more tempted to play.

"I would say that probably since I've been to two and I've won one, it has decreased in its stature," said the 27-year-old.

"I just feel like it was such an amazing moment in 1996 and such a surprise to me. I absolutely cherish that title. I don't even know if winning in 2004 would come close to that.

"But I think for this year, I would focus more on Wimbledon and the US Open for sure."

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