Former champion Lindsay Davenport withdrew on Monday from the Wimbledon championships.

The American, who also finished runner-up to Venus Williams last year, has been out of action since March with a shoulder problem and has failed to recover in time for the grasscourt Grand Slam which begins next Monday.

Davenport joins Venus's younger sister Serena, winner in 2002 and 2003, among the notable absentees. Serena has a knee injury.

Spain's Carlos Moya, Guillermo Coria of Argentina and big-serving American Taylor Dent have also been sidelined.