Capriati Out of Olympics

Former Olympic champion Jennifer Capriati has withdrawn from the USA tennis team for the Athens Games, potentially signalling an end to her erratic Olympic career.

The 28-year-old American, currently seventh in the WTA rankings, gave no reason for her withdrawal.

Capriati won her Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992, aged just 16, but failed to compete in the following two championships after being caught shoplifting in 1993, an event which sent her promising career into turmoil.

The tennis tournament is due to begin on Sunday, two days after the opening ceremony, and will span eight days.

The spokesman, Randy Walker, said Capriati decided to withdraw Sunday because of a hamstring injury that has been plaguing her since she exited the Rogers Cup in Montreal, and notified the team's coach, Zina Garrison, on Sunday.

"She has pulled out," Walker said, adding a replacement for the No. 5-ranked Capriati would likely be named later in the day.

Capriati won a gold medal at Barcelona during the 1992 Games, but missed the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

In July, Capriati withdrew from the JPMorgan Chase Open, citing a hamstring injury then.

At the time, she said she hoped to be able to play in the Olympics, which start on August 13.

"I'm really looking forward to competing this summer, especially in the Olympics and the U.S. Open," she said.

Capriati played in the Rogers Cup in Montreal earlier this month, losing to Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-2, 7-5 in the quarter-finals.