Davenport's return a triumph in Bali Sun
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
NUSA DUA, Sept 16 (AP): Lindsay Davenport won her first singles title after almost a year's absence from the tour, defeating Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Sunday to capture the Bali Open.
Davenport was playing her first singles tournament since having a baby in June. And the 31-year-old Californian eliminated some strong opponents en route to this title: second-seeded Hantuchova, top-seeded Jelena Jankovic and fifth-seeded Eleni Daniilidou.
"I'm a little bit in shock," said Davenport, who won this event in 2005. "It's just overwhelming and exciting. I swear this is probably the first tournament I've played in four years where I didn't have anything wrong with my lower extremities."
Davenport, ranked No. 1 in 1998, has won three Grand Slams in addition to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Her previous title came in Zurich, Switzerland, nearly two years ago.
She had not competed on the WTA Tour since reaching the Beijing quarterfinals in September 2006, when she lost to Amelie Mauresmo. She gave birth to her first child - a son, Jagger - with husband and former tennis player Jon Leach.
Davenport had the first break for 2-1, but her opponent evened the score the following game. Hantuchova later held a break point for a possible 5-3 lead, but the Slovak made a forehand error. Davenport responded by breaking in the next game.
The second set was settled by a break for 3-1. The final set turned one-sided from 2-1 when Davenport took the next three games at love.
"She threw in a couple of errors ... that really gave me a lot of confidence and momentum," Davenport said. "That relaxed me a little bit more in my service games, and I was able to make some more first serves."
Hantuchova needed treatment for a blister on right heel but refused to blame the injury for her defeat.
Davenport was playing her first singles tournament since having a baby in June. And the 31-year-old Californian eliminated some strong opponents en route to this title: second-seeded Hantuchova, top-seeded Jelena Jankovic and fifth-seeded Eleni Daniilidou.
"I'm a little bit in shock," said Davenport, who won this event in 2005. "It's just overwhelming and exciting. I swear this is probably the first tournament I've played in four years where I didn't have anything wrong with my lower extremities."
Davenport, ranked No. 1 in 1998, has won three Grand Slams in addition to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Her previous title came in Zurich, Switzerland, nearly two years ago.
She had not competed on the WTA Tour since reaching the Beijing quarterfinals in September 2006, when she lost to Amelie Mauresmo. She gave birth to her first child - a son, Jagger - with husband and former tennis player Jon Leach.
Davenport had the first break for 2-1, but her opponent evened the score the following game. Hantuchova later held a break point for a possible 5-3 lead, but the Slovak made a forehand error. Davenport responded by breaking in the next game.
The second set was settled by a break for 3-1. The final set turned one-sided from 2-1 when Davenport took the next three games at love.
"She threw in a couple of errors ... that really gave me a lot of confidence and momentum," Davenport said. "That relaxed me a little bit more in my service games, and I was able to make some more first serves."
Hantuchova needed treatment for a blister on right heel but refused to blame the injury for her defeat.