TMS - FORO ITALICO

May 18, 2000

Lindsay Davenport

Q. When were you advised that you couldn't play?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I was warming up this morning for the match and I went to hit a forehand and my back locked up on me. And I went to see the trainer and it's just, you know, really, really sore right now. And they don't really know what's wrong when you first do it. So I kind of knew right when I hurt it that it would be tough to play.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. It was fine yesterday. It was great the other -- I mean, it just came out of nowhere today.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's a -- I think I have this right --

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: A low back sprain on more of the left side. And for now, from what they told me, they'll know more in the morning, but they think it might be one of the joints.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, they have no idea.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. I couldn't have played today if I wanted to.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's happened before about five years ago, so, you know, backs are really tough. It's probably, you know, the area of the body that would affect you the most in tennis. I haven't had a problem with it. It came on totally by surprise, and, you know, at this point I have no idea, you know, obviously when I can play again or when it will be better to practice. So, you know, I just have to hope that it gets better in time for Paris.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I know nothing. I'm going to, you know, most likely stay here so I can get it treated, and I don't see myself leaving.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. I mean this just happened, like, two hours ago. I haven't looked into the future at all. I mean, you know, I have no idea what's going to happen.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: We haven't talked about it yet. I haven't seen my partner, I haven't talked to her, but most likely no. I mean I can't move today, so unless there's, like, you know, a miracle tonight, I don't think that will be happening.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, I didn't hear anything. But I just turned, hit a forehand and there was just intense sharp pain that went through my back. And, you know, right away you can just feel it. I don't know, the back is probably one of the worst things to hurt, and I slowly finished warm-up just by hitting a few serves, and, you know, in the half hour or so that I came to see the trainer it stiffened up even more to the point where even standing there I couldn't really twist. So, you know, it's hard to move around now. Like I said, you never know how injuries go and how long it takes to heal. Hopefully in the next few days it will loosen up, I'll be able to start practicing and begin my preparation for Paris next week.

End of FastScripts….