| | Associated Press
MADRID, Spain -- Injury has blocked Lindsay Davenport's
title defense of this week's Villa de Madrid WTA open, a tournament
where Martina Navratilova will return to pro tennis.
Davenport, who won the Madrid open last year, told the
tournament's organizers Sunday from Rome that she could not
participate because of a back injury that occurred during the
Italian Open.
The injury also threw into doubt her participation this month in
the French.
Daevnport's absence means France's Mary Pierce will be the No. 1
seed in the $170,000 Spanish clay-court tournament, followed by Amy
Frazier of the United States. Japan's Ai Sugiyama is No. 3 and
American Lisa Raymond is No. 4.
The tournament, which gets underway Monday, sees the return
after 5½ years of 43-year-old Navratilova as part of her
preparation for Wimbledon.
Before retiring, Navratilova won 167 singles titles, more than
any man or woman, and 165 doubles.
In Madrid, she teams up with South Africa's Mariaan de Swardt
and is expected to play her first doubles match Tuesday. She will
then go on to compete at Roland Garros and Eastbourne before
traveling to England.
She said she was returning to professional tennis for enjoyment.
"I really just want to have a good time," Navratilova said
recently. "I know I can compete. I'm not going to make a fool of
myself.
"Madrid I had never been. It was Madrid or Strasbourg," the
other Sanex WTA Tour event this week.
"And my mother's decided to come. We both will be doing some
sightseeing."
Winner of 19 Wimbledon titles, a victory in the doubles would
tie Navratilova with Billie Jean King for most championships won at
the All England Club.
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