TENNIS/News round-up: Anna Kournikova has withdrawn from this week's WTA tournament in Birmingham and the Eastbourne championships next week with a "chronic lumbar complaint", British tennis organisers said on Monday.
"I'm very disappointed, actually, devastated, not to be able to play in Birmingham," Kournikova said. "Grass is my favourite surface and I love playing in England, so having to pull out because of my back is the last thing I wanted. I've been advised not to play this week or next week and I don't know any further than that."
Kournikova has been plagued with injuries over the past two seasons and has not played on the WTA Tour since April's Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, from which she was forced to retire from her first-round match with a thigh strain.
This latest withdrawal also casts doubt over the 77th-ranked Russian's participation at Wimbledon, with the championships due to start on June 23rd.
It could cap a miserable recent record at Wimbledon for Kournikova. She was dismissed in round one last year by compatriot Tatiana Panova. The previous year she withdrew with a stress fracture in her left foot and in 2000, she was gone after just two rounds losing to 36th-ranked Anne-Gaelle Sidot.
Meanwhile, world number one Lleyton Hewitt has parted with coach Jason Stoltenberg on the eve of his defence of the Wimbledon crown, according to reports in the Australian media.
Stoltenberg, who has decided to spend more time with his wife and children in Melbourne, has been replaced by Hewitt's assistant coach Roger Rasheed.
The Irish Davis Cup team named yesterday to face Greece in Athens next month (July 11th-13th) shows two changes from the side that beat Egypt in Dublin earlier this year.
Peter Clarke, Ireland's leading professional, returns following suspension while Conor Niland is able to resume his international career due to holidays in the US collegiate schedule. Losing out are Stephen Nugent and Seán Cooper. The team, again captained by Owen Casey (non-playing), is one match away from a promotion play-off tie in September.
IRELAND: Peter Clarke, John Doran, David Mullins, Conor Niland, Owen Casey (non-playing captain).
