Davenport pulls out of China Open

Second seed Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the China Open yesterday with a back problem just 24 hours after winning in Bali.

The American was one of five top 10 players initially scheduled to appear in Beijing but now only new world number one Maria Sharapova and sisters Venus and Serena Williams are left in the draw.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova notified organisers of her absence after the US Open.

Davenport won the 49th singles title of her career in Indonesia at the weekend with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

One more tournament victory would make the former world number one only the ninth woman to win 50 singles titles.

Sharapova has won four of her 10 career titles in Asia and begins her campaign in the second round against Israel's Shahar Peer or fellow Russian Vera Douchevina.

Wimbledon champion Venus and last year's China Open winner Serena also received first round byes in Beijing.

¤ The French Open will start on a Sunday instead of a Monday from next year as part of a general plan to stage all grand slams over 15 days instead of 14, French Tennis Federation (FFT) president Christian Bimes said. "The tournament will last 15 days from 2006, which is great news for the promotion of tennis," Bimes said after this weekend's Fed Cup final between France and Russia at Roland Garros which set an attendance record. The idea of an extra weekend day at grand slam events is to boost ticket sales and television audiences.