Evert Withdraws From Pre-Wimbledon Match : May Miss Favorite Tournament; Inner Ear Infection Blamed

Chris Evert withdrew today from Wimbledon’s major warm-up tournament because of an ear infection and may miss next week’s Grand Slam event.

Evert skipped the French Open a month ago, citing lack of motivation after losing twice to low-ranked players.

When she returned to the United States, there was speculation that she also might bypass Wimbledon, but after a few days’ rest, Evert said she would compete in that event because it is her favorite tournament.

To prepare for Wimbledon, where she is seeded fourth, and to gain match fitness, Evert entered this week’s $300,000 Virginia Slims event at Eastbourne.

Evert was scheduled to play a third-round match today against Raffaella Reggi of Italy after two easy victories. But she defaulted because of an inner ear infection that doctors said leaves her feeling sick and dizzy every time she moves.

Geoffrey Wilson, a physician, said the infection could clear up in two days or could last longer than a week.

Asked whether Evert would be fit to play her first-round match at Wimbledon, scheduled for Tuesday, Wilson said: “That I cannot say. . . . No one can be sure.”

If Evert misses Wimbledon, in which she has reached at least the semifinals in 16 of her 17 appearances since she first played in 1972, she may never play in the tournament again.

Although she spurned talk of immediate retirement, Evert said this week that she would not continue playing for long and that she wants to raise a family.