Davenport ill, withdraws at Florida event

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla., April 12 (UPI) -- An ailing Lindsay Davenport withdrew Saturday from her scheduled semifinal match at the Bausch & Lomb tennis championships in Amelia Island, Fla.

The former world No. 1, the event's 16th seed, was due to face top-seeded Maria Sharapova, but a fever that started Friday got worse.

"I am very disappointed to not be able to take to the court today," Davenport said in a statement. "Right after my quarterfinal victory, I started feeling sick while receiving treatment from the primary healthcare provider. I returned to my hotel where the tournament doctor came to see me. Unfortunately, I was running a fever and had aches, pains and a headache. Those symptoms worsened today and I am so sorry to the fans and people involved in the tournament."

Davenport's withdrawal means Sharapova advanced to Sunday's final in a walkover to face Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, 18, who will be playing in her first tour final.

Cibulkova beat Alize Cornet of France 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in Saturday's other semifinal match.

Sunday's winner will earn $95,500.