Anna Kournikova is out of the Hastings Direct International tournament at Eastbourne next week.

The Russian pin-up is suffering from a back injury that caused her to pull out of the DFS Classic grasscourt event in Birmingham yesterday.

Kournikova, 22, has been plagued by back trouble ever since the Australian Open in January and aggravated the injury in practice at Roehampton last week.

She will return to America for a full assessment that will probably rule her out of Wimbledon as well.

She said: "I've been advised not to play this week or next week and I don't know any further than that.

"They said my injury was chronic because it keeps coming back.

"I'm devastated, not to be able to play in Birmingham. Grass is my favourite surface and I love playing in England, so having to pull out because of my back is the last thing I wanted."

Kournikova, whose world ranking has plummeted from eighth three years ago to 77th, seems destined to be best remembered for her film-star looks rather than her tennis.

In January she collected her first Grand Slam match victory in two years at the Australian Open but paid a heavy price after suffering a back strain.

Elena Baltacha has played down fears that she could be forced to miss Wimbledon with a back injury.

"I'm hoping to play Eastbourne next week," she said.

"I'm really looking forward to Wimbledon but I'll take it a day at a time."