Davenport retirement plans fade further

The Bali International could mark a new start for Lindsay Davenport, whose plans for retirement have again been shoved to the back.

Published on: Sep 11, 2006, 24:15:00 IST

None | By Anonymous, Bali

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The Bali International starting Monday could mark a new start for Lindsay Davenport, whose plans for retirement have again been shoved to the back burner thanks to recent renewed form.

The 30-year-old Californian produced a US Open quarter-final showing as she lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne.

With the three-time Grand Slam winner hedging her bets on when she will finally end her career, the defending champion might see her spirits restored even further with a win on this Indonesian resort island.

The event boasts a strong pedigree, with Davenport and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former US Open champion, winning three of last the four editions.

"I'm on my way to Bali, then Beijing," said Davenport, mapping out a full autumn schedule in Asia.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen after that," she said. "I'll see how I feel as the year goes."

Kuznetsova will be back after lifting the 2002 and 2004 honours, the second trophy win coming a week after she claimed the US Open crown.

After going out in the fourth round in New York to eventual semi-finalist Jelena Jankovic, the Russian will be keen to rev up her game in Bali.

The world No. 7 won the Miami title in March before losing to Henin-Hardenne in the Roland Garros title match.

Returning for a second year is Switzerland's Patty Schnyder, who made her Bali debut in 2005 by reaching the semi-finals, where she lost to Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic will make her Bali debut just days after going out to Serena Williams in New York.

Eight players have withdrawn from the 225,000-dollar event, half of them due to injuries, including Jankovic, a US Open semi-finalist, and Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld, currently ranked 16th in the world.

Seeds:

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x1)

Patty Schnyder (SUI x2)

Lindsay Davenport (USA x3)

Ana Ivanovic (SCG x4)

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x5)

Marion Bartoli (FRA x6)

Maria Elena Camerin (ITA x7)

Severine Bremond (FRA x8)

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