Notebook

Former champ Davenport may be nearing retirement

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Lindsay Davenport may be nearing retirement.

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Davenport faces left-foot surgery when the season ends and, as she looks around, she sees young talent coming up.

Davenport, 27, was ousted from the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tuesday by Venus Williams 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

"It definitely ran through my mind when I was out there that that could be my last singles," said Davenport, who was married in April.

Asked if she was capable of winning another Grand Slam, she hedged.

"Time's running out. I don't know how many more I'll be playing in to know that," said the '96 Olympic gold medalist.

Davenport, who won the U.S. Open (1998), Wimbledon (1999) and Australian Open (2000) has been overshadowed by the Williams sisters in the last several years. She said she didn't know if she would return next year but said "absolutely no decision by far has been made."

"It just wears on you after a while. I'm 27. I want to feel like I can keep getting better and I want to feel like I'm one of the top players."

"I don't know, and that's different from where I've been in the past where I've been concentrated," she added. "It's not saying that: 'Oh, it's over.' It's just saying that I'm not sure anymore."

Doubles whammy

Defending doubles champions Venus and Serena Williams were beaten in the third round by Elena Dementieva and Lina Krasnoroutskaya 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

The match was played a little over an hour after Serena beat Jennifer Capriati 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Venus defeated Lindsay Davenport 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 prior to her sister's match.

The Russians took advantage of ragged play by the Americans to post a tense and entertaining victory on Court No. 1.

"We both had three-set matches today and we put a lot of mental work in our singles," Serena said. "It's hard to turn around ... and play a doubles match against people who are playing well."

"We were just a little bit fatigued mentally, and a little physically."

Another American doubles team also bowed out as brothers Bob and Mike Bryan lost in the quarterfinals 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 to Leander Paes of India and David Rikl of the Czech Republic.

Jennifer's Friend

It didn't work. But it wasn't for a lack of effort.

"He's been great," Capriati said of Perry, who was a highly ranked junior player. "I think he jumped out of his seat a few times -- quite high."

Capriati was asked if he had been practicing with Perry.

"No, no, no, no," she replied. "My confidence. I don't want to get down playing with him."

For Tim

Henman faces Sebastien Grosjean in Wednesday's quarterfinals. A British reporter posed this question to Grosjean: "For the sake of European harmony and British history, would you consider playing very badly tomorrow?"

The Frenchman laughed.

"I know everybody will be for Tim," he said. "He has a really good chance to win this year. But I will try my best to play a good game."

Sportsmanship

In Tuesday's fourth and deciding set between Juan Carlos Ferrero and Sebastien Grosjean, the Frenchman hit a shot that bounced twice before he hit it. Chair umpire Lars Graff didn't see the extra bounce and gave the point to Grosjean.

He gave it back and called the double bounce on himself

"It was very good of him," Ferrero said. "He's a nice guy."

Said Grosjean: "I was surprised the umpire didn't see because it was clearly two bounces there."

Grosjean won the fourth round match, winning 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3). He meets local favorite Tim Henman in the quarterfinals.

In another twist, the French Open champion said he -- and other Spaniards -- might start winning on a surface they've usually avoided.

"I feel great and I think in the future I can play good here," Ferrero said. "I feel good on grass."

Sleepy Venus

When rain delays hit Wimbledon, Venus Williams has a tendency to nod off.

Venus' quarterfinal match against Lindsay Davenport was delayed by nearly 1 1/2 hours Tuesday by rain.

"I relax, try not to fall asleep," said Venus of what she does during rain delays.

"I am low maintenance. I am not a very stressed-out or hectic person. I'm an easy-going person, I guess that's why. Plus I love to sleep. I'm a sleeper. So any time I'm sitting still, I might nod off.

"I try really hard not to fall asleep because it takes a while to wake up. My mom always says, 'Don't go to sleep.' She would wake me up if she was around. That's how moms are."

But sister Serena occasionally steps in.

"Sometimes Serena comes by and nudges me," Venus said. "I don't think she goes to sleep as much as I do.

Venus came back from the rain delay to win the match 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 and will meet Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.

Injury scare

Schalken, seeded No. 8, aggravated an injury to his left foot in his three-set win in the fourth round over Rainer Schuettler. Both were expected to play.

Schalken had an MRI exam on Tuesday, which showed inflammation to the ball of his left foot. It was feared he had a broken bone.

"It's a quarterfinal at Wimbledon, and you don't just throw that away," Schalken said.

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