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Post by Lee on Jul 1, 2003 10:30:49 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Jul 1, 2003 22:20:52 GMT -5
Only saw the last 2 sets of the match. Lindsay played very well in the 2nd set with 1st serve over 80%. It seems her attitude improved a lot. At the sixth game of the 2nd set, she was serving while up a break but already a few bps for Venus, at deuce, she should have a forehand down the line winner, instead, she made a terrible UE to give Venus another bp. She just smiled and returned to serve. She held that game and then broke Venus again.
Venus turned up another notch in the 3rd set. Lindsay struggled with her 1st service game but held. She lost her next service game and basically, she knew the match was over (so as JMac) and Venus won 5 games in a roll to close out the match.
On a whole, Lindsay played pretty well but Venus was better and Serena beware.
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Post by Lee on Jul 2, 2003 9:06:35 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Jul 2, 2003 10:13:52 GMT -5
Leo, Lindsay may have played her last Wimbleton singles match.
from: gotennis.com
Wimbledon-Time running out for Davenport 2003-07-02 13:15:22 GMT (Reuters) By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Lindsay Davenport has graced the All England Club for a decade but British fans could have caught their last glimpse of the 1999 champion this year.
The popular American has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons and said that she could have played her last match at Wimbledon following her quarter-final defeat to fellow American Venus Williams on Tuesday.
"It definitely ran through my mind when I was out there, that that could be my last singles match out there," said Davenport, who has been troubled by a pinched nerve on her toe for the last few weeks.
"Time's running out. I don't know how many more I'll be playing in to know that."
Davenport, who is ranked fifth in the world, skipped the first three grand slam tournaments last year after undergoing right knee surgery in January 2002.
She returned to the circuit for the United States' Fed Cup tie against Israel last July but it has been a frustrating ride for her since then.
Her latest injury forced her to quit midway through her Roland Garros fourth-round match against Conchita Martinez and she has since had to rely on cortisone injections to carry on playing.
"I'm gonna definitely try and finish the year barring a foot surgery," said Davenport, who has also triumphed at the Australian and U.S. Opens.
"The thoughts have been in my mind, especially which I need another surgery. It just wears on you after a while.
"I'm hoping to wait until after the (WTA) Championships in November (to have surgery). I can get cortisone injected another maybe two times, the doctor said. The first time could work a few months, it could work a few weeks on the hard courts.
"I'm 27 and I want to feel like I can keep getting better. I want to feel like I'm one of the top players. I don't want to be six or whatever the ranking is, through 20. That's just where my heart is.
"I don't want to blow it out of proportion. Absolutely no decision by far has been made. I'm definitely going to finish the year out. It's not that I'm saying "Oh, it's over". It's just that I'm not sure anymore."
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Post by Lee on Jul 4, 2003 10:54:57 GMT -5
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Post by Jasper on Jul 9, 2003 0:15:47 GMT -5
I echo exactly what you said, Lee, about the Venus match. I was happy with her performance, especially in the second set when her game was on fire in every department, but a bit disappointed with her missed chances and lack of fight in the final set from 3-1 down. However, if she can play and serve like this on a consistent basis then she should definitely rise in the rankings past those pesty Belgians.
Oh Lindsay, please return to the Big W again in 2004! Don't call it quits just yet, not when you still have good tennis in you. I think she will play again next summer for the Olympics. She will want to be apart of that experience again, I believe. But I certainly don't expect to see her playig in 2005.
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Post by Lee on Jul 9, 2003 0:39:28 GMT -5
Oh Lindsay, please return to the Big W again in 2004! Don't call it quits just yet, not when you still have good tennis in you. I think she will play again next summer for the Olympics. She will want to be apart of that experience again, I believe. But I certainly don't expect to see her playig in 2005. Unless the Williams not playing Olympic, I doubt Lindsay's chance. I believe each country has only 2 single players.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 25, 2003 11:26:35 GMT -5
Withdrew from Stanford, but still entered in San Diego.
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Post by Lee on Jul 25, 2003 15:01:29 GMT -5
Withdrew from Stanford, but still entered in San Diego.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 26, 2003 12:29:08 GMT -5
Draw came out. Quarterfinal opponent looks to be Rubin, who is erratic/inconsistent this season, but beat Davenport last summer in LA. Then Clijsters in the semis (thank god Serena is in the other half), and then the world #1 in the finals (unless Capriati or Henin-Hardenne can pull off a major upset... no). Let's go, Linds!
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Post by Lee on Jul 26, 2003 14:50:46 GMT -5
Draw came out. Quarterfinal opponent looks to be Rubin, who is erratic/inconsistent this season, but beat Davenport last summer in LA. Then Clijsters in the semis (thank god Serena is in the other half), and then the world #1 in the finals (unless Capriati or Henin-Hardenne can pull off a major upset... no). Let's go, Linds! A really strong field in San Diego. Good Luck Lindsay!
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Post by Lee on Jul 29, 2003 16:42:53 GMT -5
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Post by Jasper on Jul 29, 2003 17:14:17 GMT -5
Yes, real great win over tough hardcourter Amy Frazier! Bravo Linds, keep it going.
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Post by Jasper on Jul 29, 2003 17:21:35 GMT -5
11 aces today!
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Post by Lee on Jul 29, 2003 17:30:18 GMT -5
More pic of Lindsay ;D Lindsay Davenport agonizes over a missed shot in her match against Amy Frazier at the Acura Classic Tuesday July 29, 2003 in Carlsbad, Calif. Davenport didn't miss many shot in her 6-3, 6-1 victory. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) Lindsay Davenport slices a backhand return during the second set of her 6-3, 6-1 victory over Amy Frazier at the Acura Classic Tuesday July 29, 2003 in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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Post by Jasper on Jul 29, 2003 23:04:25 GMT -5
Lee, I found out that the USA takes 3 singles players to the Olympics so Lindsay's got a great shot, as the current American #3. Plus she might play dubs as well, if she wants to, with Lisa. Let's hope she makes it next year. And found this great article from June: www.tennislifemagazine.com/M...03-lindsay.htmlLindsay Davenport - comfortable with life & tennis By Sandra Harwitt Once upon a time, not very long ago, Lindsay Davenport was the queen of women’s tennis. There was the world No. 1 ranking that belonged to Damsel Davenport on a number of occasions between 1998 and 2001, including the prestige of ending the 1998 and 2001 seasons sitting comfortably on the throne. There have been 38 career titles, highlighted by the notable possession of the 1996 Olympic gold medal as well as the 1998 U.S. Open, 1999 Wimbledon and 2000 Australian Open. Although there were no highly sought—after Grand Slam award-winning moments in 2001, Davenport did score a tour-leading seven trophies for the season. She finished the year with a three-tournament, 15-match winning streak at Fielderstadt, Zurich and Linz that not only equaled her results from 1999, but rivaled a similar feat by Martina Navratilova in 1988. But even before year's end in 2001, an untimely right knee injury had started to take its toll on Davenport, keeping her off the court in April and May. Playing the 2001 WTA Tour Championships in November turned out to be costly for the Southern Californian, who re-injured her knee during a long three—set semifinal victory over Belgian Kim Clijsters, forcing her to forego playing the final against Serena Williams. On January 11, 2002, while her peers headed off Down Under to compete at the Australian Open, Davenport underwent arthroscopic surgery to correct a full thickness cartilage defect in her knee, leaving her on crutches for nine weeks and facing six months of extensive rehabilitative therapy. Rejoining the tour in July of last year, Davenport admits it took quite a while for that old Lindsay tennis magic to reemerge. Finally feeling good about the state of her game this year, Davenport is back to winning form. She captured her first title since October 2001 at the Pan Pacific (Tokyo) tournament in February and secured final appointments at Sydney in January, Indian Wells in March and Amelia Island in April. Nowadays, contentment comes not only with a return to competitive form, but in her recent marriage on April 25th to investment banker and former USC All-American, Jon Leach. "It was so up-and-down, the whole time off that I was in recovery," said Davenport, unconsciously twisting her exquisite engagement ring around in circles on her finger at the NASDAQ-100 Open just a month before her wedding. "It was difficult to step away for all those months, but I did surprise myself about the work ethic I had in doing all the rehabilitation." Stepping back into champion mode this year came along with a critical change when longtime coach Robert Van't Hof ended their relationship, which had delivered three Grand Slam trophies, opting to reduce his travel schedule and stay at home with his family. Davenport initially turned to then future brother-in-law Rick Leach—the holder of 44 career doubles titles, including a Wimbledon and U.S. Open trophy—to fill Van't Hof's shoes. Despite picking up the Pan Pacific (Tokyo) trophy and reaching two finals, Davenport felt the alliance was flawed and fired Leach in a phone call the Monday after reaching the Pacific Life Open final. "We split after Indian Wells," said Davenport, who is contemplating going it alone without a formal coach. "It was just not working out. I think I needed someone stronger—stronger in personality and to push me. But we are great together and we're going to be part of the same family for years to come. It was just that on the court, it wasn't clicking." For his part, Rick Leach disagreed with Davenport's judgment call that the working relationship wasn't working, although he admitted that the family connection kept him from being a stern taskmaster to his pupil. "She felt that she wasn't playing well enough," Leach said. "I disagree. I thought she had a great tournament last week [at Indian Wells] and she moved up from what, 12 [in the rankings] to about six? I guess she expected more. Probably what hurt me the most—my last name. I should have been a lot tougher. But I'm family." Now that Davenport's journeyed back to top form, little whispers that she might be a player who can contend with the brutal firepower of the Williams sisters are starting to be heard. Overall, Davenport is neck-and-neck with Venus Williams, having won 10 of their 21 meetings, but trails Serena Williams 9-2, with their latest meeting a 6-1, 7-5 semifinal loss at the Family Circle Cup in April. Former player Pam Shriver, a well-known TV analyst these days, watched Davenport rebound in the second set of the match at the Family Circle Cup and is of the opinion that the SoCal native has the goods to take on the Williams siblings. "I think she can, and all she needs now is a little more self belief that she can. The first set-and-a-half of their match was a total mismatch. Serena was incredibly good but to Lindsay's credit, she competed and waited for that little window of opportunity to open. She needs to remember that she needs to hang in there long enough to seize the moment. Lindsay is capable of big wins over anybody, something she first proved at the '96 Olympics—that she was a big match player." Serena Williams also considers Davenport one of the players capable of giving her a hard time on the court, although she's been able to post only two wins against the world No. 1. "She's definitely someone who still is up for the challenge," Serena said of Davenport. "I think she's really back to it. Lindsay is just a strong player and she hits a big serve. She moves the ball around very well. I've actually played well against Lindsay in my career. I've really always enjoyed playing Lindsay." As it turns out, there was an upside to the downside for Davenport about being sidelined while on the road to recovery-she got to experience something of an ordinary lifestyle for a longer period of time than ever before in her adult life. The Laguna Beach resident found she enjoyed life off the road with Leach and their five-year-old Rottweiler, Zoltan, whom she describes as "a baby to us." "It was nice being home for eight, nine months," Davenport said. "Of course, being on the crutches made it so hard to get around. For about eight weeks, everything I did was curtailed. It was living the simple life and just being dedicated to rehab. You kind of realize when you're at home how difficult it is to go away from friends and family for the long periods tennis players do. I spent some time going online, doing crosswords, which was fine since I'm not the adventurous type anyway, like I don't go skiing or anything." Sitting with Tennis Life in Miami, Davenport reported that she was hoping for a quiet romantic wedding and that's just what the newlyweds arranged, with the nuptials taking place on the beach in Hawaii. With the festivities behind the couple, Davenport plans on pursuing a new hobby around her full-time travel schedule on the tour. "I never wanted to be the princess bride," said Davenport honestly. "I think we're just going to go away with family and a few friends to get married. I'm trying to learn to cook, but to be honest, it's not going too well. I can make some bad chicken, but mostly we joke and say I can prepare already-made food. But I'm planning on taking some cooking classes with a close friend so I can get better." It seems to be a given that when athletes, all patched up after a serious injury, return to their sport, they tend to bring a different perspective to their career. As for Davenport, who turns 27 in June, this is definitely the case, as she's discovered that being both a top player and a well-rounded individual can go hand in hand.
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Post by Lee on Jul 30, 2003 1:19:41 GMT -5
Lee, I found out that the USA takes 3 singles players to the Olympics so Lindsay's got a great shot, as the current American #3. Plus she might play dubs as well, if she wants to, with Lisa. Let's hope she makes it next year. I'm not sure she wants to play in Olympics. She already have a gold medal and she's not defending one. But it's nice that she has the choice to play if she wants to. And found this great article from June: www.tennislifemagazine.com/M...03-lindsay.htmlLindsay Davenport - comfortable with life & tennis ....... "I never wanted to be the princess bride," said Davenport honestly. "I think we're just going to go away with family and a few friends to get married. I'm trying to learn to cook, but to be honest, it's not going too well. I can make some bad chicken, but mostly we joke and say I can prepare already-made food. But I'm planning on taking some cooking classes with a close friend so I can get better." Thanks for the article, Leo! IMO, that wedding was perfect. *dreaming* Well, people can't expect she excels on both tennis court and home court, right! But being Lindsay, she will set a course to improve herself.
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Post by Lee on Jul 31, 2003 15:28:19 GMT -5
The clock ticks on hobbled Davenport
BY MATTHEW CRONIN tennisreporters.net Jul. 29, 2003 8:49 p.m.
CARLSBAD, Calif.— As she had eight times before, fifth-ranked Lindsay Davenport displayed at the Acura Classic why she is so much better than compatriot Amy Frazier: she's stronger off both wings, has a bigger serve, is a more aggressive returner and a much smarter player. But the clock is ticking on the inflamed nerve in Davenport's left foot and the 27-year-old said that surgery is probable immediately following the U.S. Open, which will take her out of action rest of the year. And there's no guarantee that her foot will even hold up that long.
"Unless it gets better, that's what I'm leaning towards now," Davenport said. "The doctor has been trying to control it through the next six weeks and I'll see after that. If it feels great, I'll try to delay it (until after the WTA Championships in November], but I don't know that it's going to happen."
Davenport recently received her second cortisone injection to treat the inflamed nerve in between the third and fourth toes on her left foot. She says she has one more shot left "for the rest of my life" in that area and is praying that the one she just received will take her through the U.S. Open, which she won in 1998 and is the title she cherishes the most.
"Now I've had two injections in the last five weeks. I have no idea how it will play out," said Davenport. "If I had surgery now, it would take three to four months to recover and my year would be over. Some days are good, some days are bad. It's a bizarre place to be in because I don't think anyone should have to play injured. I can't injure anything worse, it's just dealing with pain."
Davenport is not, as Frazier once said of herself, a "one-dimensional player." Hence Davenport's 6-3, 6-1 victory in the second round Tuesday, her first victory since her painful three-set loss to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Davenport, the 1998 titleholder here, dictated the entire match against Frazier, whom she has only dropped one set against in nine meetings. The Southern Californian is wearing orthotics and taking anti-inflamatories so at least her movement wasn't restricted, like it is most days, on and off the court.
"If I walk barefoot it hurts or later in the day it aches a lot," she said. "It's something I could probably deal with if I wasn't pushing off or changing directions every which way on court."
The injury forced Davenport to retire from her fourth-round match against Conchita Martinez at the French Open and was so bad during Wimbledon that after she lost to Venus 6-1 in the third set, the three-time Grand Slam champion began to discuss retirement.
"I don't want to play if I don't have the desire to be in the top four or five in the world," said Davenport, who's only won one title this year. "It's something I've lost a little. Some days I have desire and some days I don't. It's something I need to get back if I want to stay out here."
It's difficult for the one-time No. 1 to want to go back on the court week after week when she realizes that there's no way that she can overtake the Williams sisters or the Belgians at less than 100 percent. When she's healthy, she's hungry. When she's in pain, she knows that she's likely staring another defeat in the face.
"It makes life so much easier to be healthy," she said. "One day this week my foot didn't hurt at all it was so fun to run and do some drills. That's what makes it so enjoyable. I think that's one of the reasons that Steffi Graf retired because she was always battling injuries, couldn't practice and was worn out from it. It just wears on you when you have to go into tournaments under-prepared. If my foot clears up, it would be a lot better feeling to be out there all the time."
Davenport was a threat to win Grand Slams for a good six years, and now she's little more than a hobbled dark horse. She has a hard time imagining playing if she's not a threat at the Slams.
"It's tough," she said. "I haven't been in that position before. It's a weird feeling I've had the last few months and it's something that you deal with slowly. It's inevitable that your game stops improving at some time during your career, but you have to come to grips with that at sometime during your career."
Should she manage to play the next five weeks free of pain, Davenport will have more than puncher's chance at the U.S. Open. Serena Williams is hurt and unlikely to play until New York and it's doubtful that the injured Venus Williams will get in more than a tournament before New York, either.
Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne are both better players than Davenport is right now, but you can't count out a popular American at the U.S. Open with the tremendous amount of experience that Davenport has.
"You always have to have that hope and belief, especially when you've had success," Davenport said. "And you never know who will beat who and how you start playing all of a sudden. But it's clear that going into the Slams that I'm not the favorite or one of the top three any more."
That thought alone is may be enough to bring on another cortisone injection.
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Post by Lee on Aug 1, 2003 15:03:21 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Aug 1, 2003 15:49:06 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Aug 1, 2003 17:15:04 GMT -5
Lindsay Davenport of the USA serves to compatriot Chanda Rubin during quarter final action at the Acura Classic women's tennis championships in Carlsbad, California August 1, 2003. Davenport defeated Rubin 6-3 6-3 to advance. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Post by Lee on Aug 2, 2003 19:46:57 GMT -5
Lindsay lost 3-6 3-6! I was disappointed not because of the lost but the dejection Lindsay showed on court. Kim played brilliantly but Lindsay hardly run/walk. I hope it's not her feet again, otherwise, she'll be in big trouble in USO.
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Post by TennisHack on Aug 2, 2003 19:50:16 GMT -5
Now that Serena is out of the US Open, Lindsay will almost certainly be seeded #3 and is being tipped as one to win the whole thing and (perhaps) go out with a bang. What do you guys think?
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Post by Lee on Aug 2, 2003 19:55:29 GMT -5
With the way she plays these days, I doubt she will be the one to win. She has big trouble with the Belgian pair now, i.e. she totally lacks in confidence facing them and there goes her chance. But, the Amercian media will definitely put her as the one to watch! Here a pic from today! American Lindsay Davenport reaches for a forehand during her semifinal match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium during the Acura Classic women's tennis championships in Carlsbad, California August 2, 2003. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Post by Lee on Aug 2, 2003 23:37:57 GMT -5
Watch Lindsay's match today again on tape and I missed the part earlier that showed her left foot was taped and Tracy Austin said she need the extra padding because her foot was troubling her again.
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Post by Jasper on Aug 4, 2003 9:18:28 GMT -5
With Serena out Lindsay will be one of the top 4 seeds at the US Open and will probably reach the semifinals, if healthy. But, if she's going to win the whole thing she has to believe in herself and have the confidence to take out either Kim or Justine to reach the final, which she hasn't been able to do since Zurich of last year. It's very difficult for Davenport against these types of players who are speedy and athletic, and can handle her pace.
This could be her last shot at winning a Major, so let's hope that she can do well and, most importantly, give it her all.
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Post by Lee on Aug 7, 2003 0:04:28 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Aug 7, 2003 11:35:40 GMT -5
source: sportscn.com Lindsay being interviewed. She always looks good when she face the media! ;D And she looks very slim here!
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Post by Jasper on Aug 7, 2003 19:11:44 GMT -5
Lindsay does look good in that pic. She's into the quarters now, after beating Suarez in 3 sets. I hope her injury isn't coming back.
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Post by Lee on Aug 7, 2003 19:24:36 GMT -5
Lindsay does look good in that pic. She's into the quarters now, after beating Suarez in 3 sets. I hope her injury isn't coming back. Just hope it will stay down after USO so Lindsay can have the surgery done after.
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