Davenport out of Oz Open

The 32-year-old former world number one will be off the tour indefinitely.

"Of course this unexpected but exciting surprise now means I will be putting tennis on hold for the foreseeable future," Davenport said in a statement.

The American returned to the tour last year after giving birth to her first child, Jagger, and has since won four titles.

Davenport has not played since the US Open, fuelling speculation she was ready to retire, but she entered the Australian Open last week.

The Californian has won 55 career titles and finished 1998, 2001, 2004, and 2005 as the world's top-ranked player. She is married to former All-American tennis player Jon Leach.

Davenport lifted the Australian Open in 2000 to add to her triumphs at the US Open in 1998 and at Wimbledon in 1999.

Davenport also has 37 doubles titles to her name, including victories at Roland Garros in 1996 (with Mary Joe Fernandez), the US Open in 1997 (with Jana Novotna) and Wimbledon in 1999 (with Corina Morariu).

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of 2009, begins on January 19.