No regrets

Ailing Davenport glad she made trip to Roland Garros

PARIS, June 1 (Reuters) -- Lindsay Davenport's return to the French Open after a two-year break was cut short in the fourth round when she withdrew from her match against Conchita Martinez with a foot injury on Sunday.

The former world No. 1, who said the foot problem had been bothering her for a month, was trailing 6-4, 2-0 against her Spanish opponent.

"It's terribly frustrating. I was so frustrated about what I had to do, stay or quit. Maybe I should have quit straightaway," said the American sixth seed.

"It's something that has been flaring up and down for one month, on and off," she said.

"I have a sac of fluid underneath my fourth toe. I just have to do some more tests to figure out exactly what's wrong."

The withdrawal was all the more disappointing for the former Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open champion as she missed most of 2002 while recovering from knee surgery.

Health problems returned for the newly married 26-year-old in Madrid this season, when she had to pull out with an hamstring injury.

"I don't think it was a mistake to come here. I've missed not playing here," said the American, who has missed the last two French Open tournaments due to the knee injury.

Davenport lost in the first round of her last visit to Roland Garros in 2000.

"I want to try to win here and play as many slams as I can," she insisted. "But the more years you play, the less and less chances you have at slams."

Despite the latest in a long series of injuries, the American said she was not contemplating quitting the game altogether.

"Not yet. I don't think that this is going to be another six or eight months.

"If I was faced with that situation, I don't think there would be much question, it would probably be too difficult to go through all that and come back again.

"You know, injuries are a way of life in pro sports."

 

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