Dementieva pulls out of Wimbledon

Elena Dementieva has pulled out of next week’s Wimbledon because of a calf injury, the Russian world number five said.

“(I) will not play at Wimbledon this year,” she said on her official website (www.dementieva.ru).

Dementieva suffered the injury during the French Open, forcing her to retire from her semi-final earlier this month against eventual winner Francesca Schiavone.

In Paris, Dementieva said she first suffered the problem to her left calf in a second-round win over Anabel Medina Garrigues.

“It was very painful to even walk. I couldn’t really move on the court,” she said at the time.

The Olympic champion would have been a legitimate title contender at the grass-court major after reaching the semi-finals at the All England Club last year.

She had a match point against Serena Williams before losing 6-7 7-5 8-6 to the American, who went on to claim her third Wimbledon crown.

Dementieva, who has yet to win a grand slam title, did not say when she planned to return to the Tour. Initially, she said the injury could take up to six or seven weeks to heal.