WASHINGTON, Dec 17: American tennis star and former world champion Lindsay Davenport, who is expecting her first child, told ESPN.com she expects to retire from the sport once her baby is born.

“I hate the word 'retirement,' but this season was such a struggle physically for me, and I can't imagine playing again,” the three-time Grand Slam winner said in an interview posted on the cable sports network's website.

“I can't say there's any sadness yet about missing tennis. My life is with my husband and my future child,” Davenport told ESPN.

“I feel like the second part of my life is about to begin, and I feel so lucky that if everything goes well, I'm able to go out like this. The timing couldn't be better.”

The 30-year-old American is expecting her first child with her husband of three years, Jonathan Leach. The baby is due in early summer.

Davenport has won 51 career WTA singles events, and she captured the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.—AFP