Davenport pregnant, likely to quit tennis

Lindsay Davenport, the three-time grand slam tournament winner will soon fulfill her desire to trade tennis for motherhood. The 30-year-old player is expecting her first child next year and has no plans to play tennis again.

"I hate the word 'retirement' but this season was such a struggle physically for me and I can't imagine playing again," Davenport from her home in Southern California. "I can't say there's any sadness, yet, about missing tennis. My life is with my husband and my future child."

The American bothered by back problems for a greater part of 2006, made it to the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open and finished the year ranked 25. Her last Grand Slam title came way back in 2000, at Melbourne Park.

She has won a total of 51 titles in singles and 36 in doubles including the U.S. Open singles title in 1998, Wimbledon in 1999 and the Australian Open in 2000. Davenport was also the Olympic gold medalist in 1996.

In her 14-year career the American managed to finish four seasons: 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005 as the top ranked player of the world.

Davenport married investment banker Jonathan Leach in April, 2003 and has openly pondered retirement for the past two years. Whether or not will she play professionally again, still cannot be confirmed.

"I feel like the second part of my life is about to begin, and I feel so lucky that if everything goes well, I'm able to go out like this. The timing couldn't be better." she said.

Davenport specifically asked US Open officials before the tournament, that she should not be feted, Andre Agassi-style, or even interviewed on court after her last match because she was uncertain of her future.

Davenport’s pregnancy marked the first major withdrawal from next month's Australian Open.