Justine Henin is quitting professional tennis, according to a Belgian newspaper.
Henin, 25, the top-ranked player in the world, will make the announcement today, Het Nieuwsblad reported.
Henin has been battling fatigue and not playing well. Last week she was ousted from the Berlin Open in the third round and this week she pulled out of the Italian Open.
MORE TENNIS
Nikolay Davydenko reached the third round of the Hamburg Masters by defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-1 yesterday, and two more players retired because of injuries. Luis Horna (calf) and Kristof Vliegen (back) joined Filippo Volandri (knee), who pulled out on Monday.
Unseeded teenager Victoria Azarenka routed Sybille Bammer 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome before play was suspended because of rain.
NFL
Mike Ditka gained some important support in his effort to help players who are now ailing in retirement.
Doctors in Arizona and Pennsylvania announced they are donating medical care to those in need through the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.
Ditka, a Hall of Fame player who later coached the Bears to a Super Bowl title, has criticized the players' union for ignoring the medical needs of former players with serious injuries who can't afford to pay for their care. Gridiron Greats has raised more than $1 million since it was formed a year ago.
Now, it has doctors at the Surgical Specialty Hospital of Arizona in Phoenix and the OAA Orthopedic Specialists in Allentown, Pa., providing free treatment to former players who qualify, while the organization covers travel and helps with other expenses.
Congress recently took up the issue, releasing a report last month that encouraged the league and union to change benefits programs and fund independent research on the toll the game takes on players.
The Buffalo Bills released Kevin Everett, clearing the way for the former tight end to receive disability benefits for the spinal cord injury in last year's season opener that ended his career.
Everett, who has regained many motor skills and can walk without assistance, would not have been eligible had he stayed on the Bills' active roster.
Brian Urlacher skipped voluntary workouts, trying to impress upon the Bears his unhappiness with his current contract. Since Chicago hasn't budged, the linebacker told Yahoo.com he also expects to boycott a mandatory mini-camp that runs from May 30 to June 1.
Urlacher, who said he has recovered from neck surgery, has four years left on his nine-year, $56.5 million contract.
The Oakland Raiders made another move to try to upgrade their defense, signing free-agent defensive end Greg Spires to a one-year contract. Spires, released by Tampa Bay in February, has 39½ sacks in his 10-year career.
CRIME AND COURTS
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. The three-time Pro Bowler was stopped early Saturday, Kirkland (Wash.) police said. An arrest report said Tatupu had breath tests of .155 and .158; the legal limit is .08.
Former NFL running back Troy Hambrick was sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking crack cocaine in Florida. Hambrick, who played for the Cowboys and Cardinals, was arrested for allegedly selling nearly 200 grams of crack to an undercover informant in three separate deals last September.
Former West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez said in a deposition that Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the university's board of governors pressured him into signing a new contract before the start of the 2007 season, even though it had a $4 million buyout clause he didn't want.
The deposition is part of evidence collection for WVU's lawsuit to recover the $4 million from Rodriguez, who quit in December for the job at Michigan.
A New York appeals court agreed to hear a request by two-time defending America's Cup champion Alinghi to push back the start of its showdown against BMW Oracle Racing until May 2009.
The Swiss group appealed a day after a lower court judge ruled that the best-of-three series couldn't begin before March 12. While a victory for Alinghi, that ruling conflicts with the Deed of Gift, which governs the Cup and prohibits racing in the Northern Hemisphere between Nov. 1 and May 1.
AUTO RACING
Dale Coyne Racing crewman Charles Buckman was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis four days after being struck by Danica Patrick's race car during practice for the Indianapolis 500. He had suffered a concussion and cuts to his scalp and face.
BOXING
Miguel Cotto's welterweight unification title fight with Antonio Margarito will be held July 26 in Las Vegas, The Associated Press learned.
Cotto, the undefeated WBA champion, will meet IBF champion Margarito at the MGM Grand Garden, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because the completed deal won't be announced until next week.
SOCCER
Cristiano Ronaldo has told Manchester United fans he's not interested in a move to Real Madrid right now, even if the Spanish club bids 100 million pounds ($196 million) for him.
Ronaldo has 41 goals this season, helping the Red Devils win the English Premier League and reach the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21 in Moscow.
Chelsea captain John Terry, who dislocated his elbow last weekend, will be fit to play in the Champions League final, Blues coach Avram Grant said.
HORSE RACING
Storm Cat, one of the top stallions in thoroughbred racing history, has been retired as a breeder.
Ric Waldman, a stallion consultant at Overbrook Farm in Lexington, Ky., where the 25-year-old horse stood at stud, said owners made the decision because of a steep drop in Storm Cat's fertility rate. Last year, he produced 32 mares in foal, compared with just three this year.
EQUESTRIAN
The rider seriously injured when her horse crashed into a fence at the Rolex Three-Day Event in Lexington, Ky., was released from the hospital.
Laine Ashker, 24, was released 2½ weeks after she was hurt on April 26. Her ribs, jaw, collarbone and shoulder blade were broken, and she had collapsed lungs from the crash.
CYCLING
Mark Cavendish of England won the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia in a group sprint finish in Catanzaro Lungomare, Italy, and Franco Pellizotti of Italy retained the overall lead. Cavendish finished in an unofficial time of 4 hours, 49 minutes, 9 seconds.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Kojo Mensah, a junior guard who was one of five Duquesne players shot on campus in September 2006, is passing up his final season of eligibility to enter the NBA draft. He hired agent Steve Cronin.
– FROM NEWS SERVICES
