LINDSAY DAVENPORT AND SERENA WILLIAMS WITHDRAW FROM TORAY PAN PACIFIC OPEN

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams have been forced to withdraw from next week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, one of the premiere events on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

Davenport injured her left ankle earlier this week at the Australian Open, while Williams has determined that she needs additional practice time before being able to compete at the Tour level.

“Unfortunately the left ankle that I injured during the Australian Open earlier this week will prevent me from competing in this year’s Toray Pan Pacific Open,” Davenport stated. “This has always been one of my favorite tournaments and one of the premiere events on the Tour, so I am really disappointed to miss this year’s tournament. I look forward to getting back on the court as soon as this injury has healed.”

Williams expressed her deep disappointment at not being ready to compete in Tokyo: “I am disappointed to withdraw from the Toray Pan Pacific Open but I feel like I need more practice time on the court in order to compete at the highest level.”

Added Williams, “This is very disappointing to me as I was looking forward to playing the Toray Pan Pacific Open, which is well known to have some of the best fans and sponsors in the world. I look forward to getting back to where I need to be and competing again on the Tour at my next scheduled event in Antwerp in mid-February.”

Top seeds at the $1,340,000 Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open include former Wimbledon champion, defending Toray Pan Pacific Open champion and current World No. 4 ranked Maria Sharapova, World No. 9 ranked Elena Dementieva and former Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina.