Pregnant Davenport to take break

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Lindsay Davenport is likely to retire from tennis after announcing she is expecting her first child.

The former world number one is due to give birth early next summer and so will definitely miss the start of the 2007 season.

"I hate the word 'retirement' but this season was such a struggle physically for me and I can't imagine playing again," the 30-year-old told ESPN.com.

"I feel like the second part of my life is about to begin."

She added: "I can't say there's any sadness yet about missing tennis. My life is with my husband and my future child.

"I feel so lucky that if everything goes well, I'm able to go out like this. The timing couldn't be better."

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In 2004 Davenport said she planned to retire at the end of that year but changed her mind and continued playing.

Injury restricted her to just eight tournaments this year with her last appearance in Beijing in September.

Davenport, who picked up an Olympic gold medal with the USA in 1996, won the US Open in 1998 before beating Steffi Graf in the Wimbledon final the following year.

She also won the 2000 Australian Open and finished 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005 ranked number one in the world.

She has won 51 singles titles and is currently 25th in the world rankings.