Former champion Lindsay Davenport still fancies her chance of fronting up for Wimbledon despite pulling out injured on Tuesday from the Eastbourne Championships.

The 2001 American champion at the All England club was replaced in the draw at Devonshire park by Kaia Kanepi.

"I'm so bummed that I can't play here," said the 32-year-old mother of one who withdrew after tweaking her knee during training at the weekend. "I've been working the hardest since I was pregnant (2007).

"I'm so disappointed, I came here expecting to play and I was really eager to get back onto court."

Davenport, who returned to tennis last autumn after nine months away to give birth, has won four titles since her comeback.

The Californian skipped the French Open, last playing in April in the US where she handed a walkover to Maria Sharapova in the semifinals on American green clay at Amelia Island.

Britain's last hope in the grand slam tuneup exited as Russian Alisa Kleybanova put out Melanie South 6-4, 6-4.

Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki booked a second-round spot against top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova with a win over Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-2.

Davenport said she will go to London as soon as possible for a scan on the knee. "We feel that it's tissue damage rather than anything structural.

"I felt it getting sore, it was no sudden movement. I just want to find the cause and treat it. Otherwise, I feel great physically.

"I had six weeks of good training at home. I love Wimbledon and have had good results there. Hopefully my body will hold up and I'll have a chance to go back."

AFP