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End is nigh for Davenport
The end is in sight for Lindsay Davenport, a dominant figue in women's tennis for the last decade.
The end is in sight for Lindsay Davenport, one of the dominant figues in women's tennis for the last decade, and just two wins away from a second Wimbledon title.
Speaking after her one-sided quarter-final win over Croatia's Karolina Sprem, the 28-year-old Californian sprung a surprise by confirming comments from John McEnroe that she could be playing her last Wimbledon.
"There's probably a good chance that's the case. But nothing definitive," she replied when asked about the comments.
"I plan in my mind, no matter what, to play out this year and then go over it in my mind again."
The 1999 Wimbledon champion, one of the tallest women players to have competed at the top level at over 6 foot 2 inches (1.89 m), has had a torrid time of it the last two years with injuries espcially to her knees and feet.
She has struggled to finish several tournaments and her last Grand Slam success came four years ago at the Australian Open which gave her the world No.1 ranking.
On top of that she married an investment banker in April, 2003 and says that competitive tennis is becoming less of a priority in her life.
"I still love to play tennis and I take it very seriously," she said.
"But, there's no question, marriage and everything else is a higher priority. It just gets harder and harder to go away for weeks on end.
"And most importantly injuries kind of curtail the excitement of playing. Some days you don't really feel all that eager to go and practice. It just becomes harder and harder to do and more tedious."
"So I have not set a definitive timetable, but as you get older, I'm 28 now, I don't foresee myself playing many more."
But there will be more to come at this year's Wimbledon, as Davenport takes on rising Russian star Maria Sharapova, 11 years her junior, for what would be her third Wimbledon final.
Davenport lifted the Wimbledon crown 6-4, 7-5 against Steffi Graf in 1999 in what turned out to be the German's last Grand Slam match.
The following year, she lost in the final to Venus Williams starting an as yet unbroken run of four Wimbledon wins for Venus and her younger sister Serena.
It would be a fitting end to a stellar career if Davenport were the one to bring that all-in-the family run to an end, but first she must put down the youthful challenge of Sharapova on Thursday.
"I will be facing my toughest opponent yet in the next round, someone that hits very hard and can take me out of the game," she said.
"I'm going to try to do that to her first."
