NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP):

Lindsay Davenport's return to professional tennis was postponed yesterday when her doubles match at the Pilot Pen event was bumped because of rain.

Davenport gave birth to her first child, Jagger Jonathan Leach, in June and has not played since last September.

Davenport and doubles partner Lisa Raymond were rescheduled to play Cara Black and Liezel Huber this afternoon.

Showers wiped out the entire day session yesterday. Officials hoped to play at night, with three remaining first-round singles matches taking precedence over the doubles.

"I had to go to Lindsay and the doubles match and say, 'Your match is not essential'," tournament director Anne Worcester said. "We have to get the first-round matches played."

HENMAN CONFERENCE

Meanwhile, amid reports that he's ready to retire, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman is holding a news conference tomorrow to discuss his tennis future.

The 32-year-old Henman has been bothered by a bad back but is entered in the U.S. Open, which begins Monday and is scheduled to then play for Britain against Croatia next month for a spot in the Davis Cup's World Group.

"Because of the recent press speculation I will be holding a press conference in New York ahead of the U.S. Open ... to discuss my plans for the remainder of 2007," Henman said on his web- site. "Until then, I'll continue to work hard on regaining full fitness ahead of the U.S. Open."

The Times of London and The Daily Mirror reported that Henman will quit after the Davis Cup series, which will be played at the All England Club. But Lawn Tennis Association chief executive, Roger Draper, said Henman has not yet made a final decision about his future and could take one more shot at Wimbledon next year.

Sidelined with a knee injury at the beginning of the season, Henman has fallen to No. 92 in the rankings and has been a far cry from the player who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1996-97 and 2003-04.

In June, Henman lost in the second round at the All England Club for the third straight year.

Difficult to cope

"I still really enjoy practising and training and also playing matches. It's just frustrating that my body has struggled to cope with what I've been asking it to do in the past couple of years," Henman said.

"Having a family has certainly changed the way I look at the world and also to a certain extent my priorities in life, but I would not go so far as to say that it has diminished my hunger for the game."

Still, he is 5-11 this season and finding it hard to stay healthy.

"I was also planning to play in New Haven this week but I had to pull out because I'm having a few problems with my back," Henman said. "I'm not fully fit, so my focus at the moment is to try to get my back sorted out and then to take it from there."

Throughout his prime, Henman was looked upon as a saviour for British tennis fans who were desperate for the first homegrown Wimbledon men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

He's played in 14 Wimbledons, losing in the quarter-finals four times to go along with his four semi-final appearances. Henman also reached the semi-finals at the French Open and U.S. Open.

He's won 11 singles titles in his career and his highest ranking was No. 4.