Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport withdraw from East West Bank Classic THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fri Jul 18, 8:12 PM ET


CARSON, Calif. - Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport withdrew Friday from
next week's East West Bank Classic, with both citing right knee injuries.

Williams hasn't played a tournament since defeating her younger sister Serena
to win her fifth Wimbledon title earlier this month.

"I have been receiving treatment for tendinitis in my right knee over the
last several days and my medical advisers have encouraged me to allow myself
an additional week to completely recover," she said in a statement.

Williams said she still plans to play the Rogers Cup in Montreal, the Beijing
Olympics and the U.S. Open this summer.

Davenport's nagging right knee injury caused her to withdraw from a
tournament for the fourth time in seven weeks. She is on the U.S. Olympic
tennis team.

"I always look forward to the opportunity to play so close to home, but
unfortunately my knee has not completely healed at this point," she said in a
statement.

Meng Yuan of China moved into Williams' spot in the draw, while Stephanie
Dubois of Laval, Que., took Davenport's place. Serena Williams is scheduled
to play in the US$600,000 Carson tournament that begins Monday.