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Post by Lee on Aug 1, 2004 16:06:46 GMT -5
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Post by Jasper on Aug 1, 2004 20:06:31 GMT -5
Did you see her today? She was perfect! Best match of the year for her. Congrats on the three straight Californian titles, the top ranking in the Porsche Race, the top ranking in the US Open Series, the top spot in the "2004 Most Titles" list, and the #2 ranknig in the Entry System for the first time since 2002! Now rest up, refresh yourself, and dominate some more when you return.
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Post by Lee on Aug 5, 2004 16:02:45 GMT -5
When I finally have TV access, Lindsay is not playing this week
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Post by Jasper on Aug 6, 2004 21:50:01 GMT -5
Lee. You'll see her kick butt at New Haven and the US Open.
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Post by Jasper on Aug 22, 2004 12:02:11 GMT -5
Davenport def. Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 in Cincy. #6 of the year and #4 in a row.
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Post by Lee on Aug 22, 2004 14:59:10 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Aug 23, 2004 13:10:24 GMT -5
Just see this on tennisweekhttp://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=11344&bannerregion=
Born-Again Champion: Lindsay Davenport Interview
Photo By Susan Mullane By Brad Falkner 08/20/2004
In the moments leading up to the final of the JPMorgan Chase Open, Lindsay Davenport breaks from her pre-match huddle with coach Adam Peterson and husband Jon Leach and joins rival Serena Williams in the tunnel leading out to the stadium court. As the pair march off to battle, they casually engage in the type of banter one might normally expect at the beauty parlor, country club or bridge club.
Once the match begins, Davenport puts the friendship aside and produces the brand of tennis that enabled her to claim three Grand Slam tournament singles titles (1998 U.S. Open, 1999 Wimbledon and 2000 Australian Open) and year-end No. 1 finishes in 1998 and 2001. So finely tuned was Davenport’s game that she produced only one unforced error in the entire first set of her virtuoso 6-1, 6-3 drubbing of the once-invincible Williams. The L.A. title was a fitting encore to the previous week’s win at Stanford over Venus Williams, whom Davenport had not defeated in almost four years.
Fast forward to San Diego a week later and the results are the same, with Davenport completing a clean sweep of the three-stop California summer swing of the WTA Tour. She defeats Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina in straight sets in the 48-minute final of the Acura Classic. Myskina considers Davenport, not the Williams sisters, to be the strongest force in women’s tennis.
"The person has to be ready 100 percent, serving four aces in each game, returning unbelievable and just be lucky," Myskina says. She is not alone in her analysis. The word in the women’s locker room these days is that Lindsay is the player to beat.
On court, Davenport epitomizes poise, carrying herself with the confidence of a champion, while possessing the heart of a fighter. What else could be expected? She did not drop a set after beating Venus Williams in a third set tie-break in the final at Stanford and entered the Pilot Pen in New Haven with a 14-match, three tournament winning streak. It is the prelude to her first Grand Slam tournament singles title all over again.
At age 28, a resurgent Davenport, who leads the tour with five singles titles this year, is back in a comfortable role: U.S. Open favorite. I'm not sure this is a comfortable role, she doesn't like the attention or being a favourite in USO
For most of her return to the WTA Tour since July 2002, following an eight-month absence because of a right knee injury requiring surgery the previous January, Davenport has been cast in the role of perennial quarterfinalist — or, at best, semifinalist — a red flag to some, signaling the end of her career. Retirement, in fact, has been the topic of many a Davenport press conference lately, in part because Davenport herself said at Wimbledon that she would be surprised if she returned to the All England Club to play in 2005. Now it seems players such as Myskina, whose record against Davenport slipped to 0-3, might be hoping Davenport retires just to avoid the nightmare of seeing her across the net.
"Sampras won a U.S. Open and retired," Myskina says. "Maybe Lindsay wants to do the same thing. She’s playing unbelievably. Maybe she’ll finish the year at No. 1 and then retire."
Perhaps. But if Myskina’s desires go unfulfilled and Davenport can stay healthy, she will be a force well into 2005 and beyond.
Tennis Week: For the better part of 2002 and 2003 the titles were not coming your way as often as before. This year, especially lately, you’ve returned to your old form. What’s the difference?
Lindsay Davenport: Not being injured almost this whole year, which has not happened for me in a long time, has enabled me to practice harder and play matches with a clearer head and not worry about other things or what’s going on with my body. Physically, I was not at my best. So the later matches of tournaments, like the semis and finals, were difficult to pull out. 2004 has been a great year and a huge relief. Just now I’m getting the confidence back that I lost when I was out for eight months with my knee; it took awhile. Then last year I had the foot problem bothering me all year, until I had surgery in October. It’s been a slow road back, but I still managed to always be near the top, whether I was a factor in winning tournaments or a semifinalist. It’s been nice to break back through and start winning tournaments again.
Tennis Week: Kim Clijsters was your nemesis for most of 2002 through 2003.
Lindsay Davenport: Part of it was timing. When she started playing better, there’s no question that it was the most difficult year and a half of my career. Would it have been different had I not be injured? Who knows. She was playing pretty great last year. It was tough. I knew that I couldn’t last in long matches with my foot. So I think mentally trying to play points, I was always trying to end them too early, just trying to go for bigger shots. Now I’m playing calmer and with my focus. I will be looking forward to getting more chances against her when she comes back.
Tennis Week: In the tunnel before the final with Serena in L.A., you two were having a friendly conversation. Is that typical with the players on the WTA Tour? I’ve not seen that as much with the guys on the ATP tour.
Lindsay Davenport: It depends on who you are playing. Would that happen with Venus? No way. She’s not as outgoing as Serena. Serena is great. We were in the same training room before the match joking around and talking about gossip magazines. She was showing me the ones she brought in, just stuff like that.
Tennis Week: So, like girl stuff?
Lindsay Davenport: Yeah, exactly! She was trying to give me some fashion tips. (Laughs) She’s always had a great attitude to me about everything, win or lose. So I guess it depends on who you play.
Tennis Week: Are the Williams sisters still the last people that you want to see in your half of the draw?
Lindsay Davenport: The last few weeks or months, it hasn’t felt the same as playing them two years ago when they were really dominant and no one was really looking forward to playing them. It would be premature to underestimate them. They are so incredibly balanced in what they do, with all of their off-court interests. I have such a hard time just doing tennis and trying to run an ordinary, boring lifestyle at home. I couldn’t imagine trying to fit in everything that they do. I would imagine that pretty soon they will put a bigger commitment into tennis. I know that they are not happy or satisfied with the last few months.
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Post by Lee on Aug 23, 2004 13:10:48 GMT -5
Tennis Week: You have to feel very good about your chances this year in New York.
Lindsay Davenport: The last two Grand Slams have shown you that no one is really taking the bull by the horns. Who would have thought that Myskina and (Maria) Sharapova would have won? They are great players, but nobody has been totally dominating like Justine (Henin-Hardenne) was last year. So I feel like I’m in the best position that I’ve been in for a long time. I feel really great about my game, playing on hard courts and being in the states. I feel very confident every time I step out on the court.
Tennis Week: Anastasia Myskina told me that you are now the player to beat. That must be a nice feeling.
Lindsay Davenport: It is. But all that can change pretty quickly. People get on runs and obviously I’ve been playing really well, but you’ve got to keep that going. I’m beating a lot of good players, which is a huge confidence builder. I’ve made huge strides in the last few weeks, in a lot of matches. A lot of times all you need is confidence to carry you through certain matches, and I feel like I’ve gotten that back. However, it’s still (a few) weeks before the U.S. Open.
Tennis Week: How has your attitude changed?
Lindsay Davenport: Sometimes I would take losses too hard and that would shatter all the confidence that I had worked to build. I know that this is the best that I’ve played in a long time. I’m determined not to let myself destroy it, which I’ve been known to do sometimes.
Tennis Week: What’s going on with Elena Dementieva’s serve?
Lindsay Davenport: She’s got a funny serve. We all know where it’s going; it always goes to the forehand. What you don’t know is if it’s coming really soft or if it’s coming hard. It’s crazy. You get some that come in at 50 (mph) and others that come in at 105 (mph). Sometimes I don’t know if she knows what’s going to happen. Once the point starts, she’s a tough player.
Tennis Week: You’ve got a pretty solid practice partner at home. How does he fair against you?
Lindsay Davenport: He would probably beat me. We practice together about once a month. He’s pretty competitive and feisty. Male tennis players are pretty tough to compete against. He serves at like 130 mph and he does not play regularly. But he’s still pretty good. If he was able to serve and volley and practice for a week or two, he’d be tough to beat.
Tennis Week: If or when you two have children, do you think you would come back and play like Sandrine Testud, or would that be it?
Lindsay Davenport: That’s why I have not retired yet and I’m still playing now. I think physically it would be pretty tough, and I don’t think it would be fair to my husband or our child.
Tennis Week: Would you retire if you won the U.S. Open?
Lindsay Davenport: I don’t think that I’m ready to retire in a month, even if I were to win it. I definitely want to finish the year and finish playing at the Staples Center [in the WTA Tour Championships, Nov. 10-15]. I don’t think winning the U.S. Open would change that.
Tennis Week: How much interest would you have in staying involved with the game as an announcer and/or as an administrator?
Lindsay Davenport: I won’t have a big role in the tennis world for a little while anyway. I’m pretty happy being anonymous, and I look forward to being at home more. I actually don’t believe that the day you quit you should become an expert and become a commentator. I think that you’re maybe still too close to the game. I think it’s almost good to step back for a year or two.
Tennis Week: What do you want to do after you leave the game?
Lindsay Davenport: I don’t know. I don’t know exactly when I’m going to hang it up. I’m lucky that I don’t quite have to worry about that yet. I’m not really worried about that yet.
Tennis Week: Talk about some of the changes in the women’s game. You started with Gabriela Sabatini and Steffi Graf. Now there are the Belgians, the Williams sisters and a bevy of fine Russian players. How have things changed from era to era?
Lindsay Davenport: The game has definitely gotten faster; there’s no question. The ball is always coming at you at a faster speed. I don’t know if Gaby’s serve would make it anymore. The players on a whole at the top are a lot friendlier. When I started 12 years ago, Steffi was very much to herself. Gaby was not unfriendly, but very shy. Arantxa always had her entourage around. It seems like everyone is more friendly and social and hangs out more together now. Venus is pretty competitive and serious before a match, nothing wrong with that. Even her, she is pretty friendly after the match and in general.
Tennis Week: What are your thoughts on the future of women’s tennis in the United States? Of all the U.S. women in the Top 100 immediately after Wimbledon, only two were younger than 23: Serena Williams and Shenay Perry.
Lindsay Davenport: It’s been disappointing the last five years, since Venus and Serena came up, that there has not been anyone else that has gotten near the top or really been in contention at the Grand Slams. The Russians seem like they have all these players coming out of the woodwork. It’s phenomenal. Every year it seems like two or three more make it into the Top 20. There’s no question that if Jennifer, myself, Venus and Serena were to stop, it would be tough. There’d be nobody in there from the U.S. making a serious run at a Grand Slam. Hopefully some more players will come along in the next few years before we’re all gone.
Brad Falkner is an occasional contributor to both Tennis Week and TennisWeek.com. His last story for Tennis Week was "There’s Something About Mardy" in the April 20th, 2004 issue.
This story appears in the latest issue of Tennis Week magazine. To subscribe, please click this subscription link.
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Post by Lee on Aug 23, 2004 14:44:34 GMT -5
Pleaseeeee!!!!!!!!!!! The injury not to be serious! Davenport drops out of Pilot Pen with wrist injury August 23, 2004 NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- Lindsay Davenport dropped out of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament Monday with a wrist injury. Tournament officials said Davenport, winner of her last four events, has tendinitis in her left wrist. The world's fourth-ranked player beat Vera Zvonareva in Sunday's final at the Western and Southern Women's Open in Mason, Ohio. Davenport won three hardcourt events in California earlier this summer. ``Not being able to return to New Haven is a major disappointment for me,'' Davenport said in a written statement. ``The pain and risk of further injury have made it impossible for me to play.'' Marissa Irvin, a first-round loser in Ohio last week, replaces Davenport in the draw. As the top-seeded player, Davenport got a first-round bye, so Irvin automatically advances to the second round.
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Post by Jasper on Aug 23, 2004 22:48:02 GMT -5
I'm hoping (and thinking) that this injury withdrawal is just precautionary or simply an excuse to pull out because she's fatigued. If it serious, thankfully she does have a week to rest up and heal. Remember she had a slight problem with this left wrist early in the first set of the Stanford final, and that didn't seem to stop her at all, did it? See you in New York, Linds. This is definitely the right decision. New Haven has never been her best tournament, anyway.
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Post by Jasper on Aug 23, 2004 22:50:51 GMT -5
I love that interview! I also saw it in the TOP forum in WTAW. Do you post there at all, Lee? Most of the Lindsay fans are reasonable and nice.
Anyway, this is my favorite part:
Tennis Week: Kim Clijsters was your nemesis for most of 2002 through 2003.
Lindsay Davenport: Part of it was timing. When she started playing better, there’s no question that it was the most difficult year and a half of my career. Would it have been different had I not be injured? Who knows. She was playing pretty great last year. It was tough. I knew that I couldn’t last in long matches with my foot. So I think mentally trying to play points, I was always trying to end them too early, just trying to go for bigger shots. Now I’m playing calmer and with my focus. I will be looking forward to getting more chances against her when she comes back.
Just think how much her attitude has changed against the top players! It wasn't long ago that she openly admitted that she doubted her ability to challenge the likes of Kim, Justine, Venus, and Serena - now she is full of confidence and excited to meet up with them. Terrific change in attitude. I guess that's prone to happening when you win 4 tournaments in a row, 2 of them over your past nemeses.
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Post by Lee on Aug 24, 2004 0:39:10 GMT -5
I love that interview! I also saw it in the TOP forum in WTAW. Do you post there at all, Lee? Most of the Lindsay fans are reasonable and nice. I hardly ventured into WTAWorld these days. I think I posted there once or twice.
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Post by Lee on Oct 14, 2004 16:50:51 GMT -5
Davenport regains No. 1 ranking by advancing to Kremlin Cup quarterfinals By LEONID CHIZHOV, Associated Press Writer October 14, 2004 MOSCOW (AP) -- American Lindsay Davenport regained the No. 1 ranking for the first time since early 2002 by defeating Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Kremlin Cup on Thursday. Davenport officially will overtake France's Amelie Mauresmo next week to move atop the WTA rankings for the fifth time. She trailed Mauresmo by just 15 points, 4,395 to 4,380, after winning the Porsche Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany, on Sunday. ``I'm amazed that I was able to get back to No. 1 after a tough couple of years,'' said Davenport, who has struggled with assorted injuries since last being at the top on Jan. 13, 2002. She also had brief stays at No. 1 in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Davenport won at Filderstadt when Mauresmo retired with a strained left thigh after losing the first set of the final. Mauresmo also withdrew from the Moscow tournament because of the injury. ``I'm excited,'' Davenport said. ``But I'd like to be able to keep on going and win the tournament as a new No. 1 and not be completely satisfied just by winning today's match.'' Davenport was joined in the quarterfinals by fellow American Venus Williams, who defeated Russian teenager Vera Douchevina 6-0, 6-4. French Open and defending champion Anastasia Myskina overcame a one-set deficit to defeat fellow Russian Elena Likhovtseva 2-6, 6-1, 6-0. Fifth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia also reached the quarterfinals, winning 6-3, 6-3 over Croatian qualifier Sanda Manic. Safina, an 18-year-old wild card entry, called a trainer to treat a split toenail after the first set. Davenport won four consecutive games for a 5-1 lead in the second set. ``Conditions here are much different than last week in Germany and it took me a number of games to feel comfortable on the court,'' Davenport said. ``In the beginning I made a lot of errors but got better as the match went on and was able to end the match better then I started.'' Davenport will face Italy's Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals. ``I served badly today and when you serve this way against such opponents they start to press you,'' Safina said. ``She served hard. She fired three aces in a game -- I couldn't even see where she was serving.'' sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpb3M3YzRkBF9TAzk1ODYyNTg0BHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=ap-davenportno1&prov=ap&type=lgns
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Post by Jasper on Oct 14, 2004 17:39:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Nov 12, 2004 14:52:10 GMT -5
Click here if you know Chinese sports.sina.com.cn/s/2004-11-11/0227413362s.shtmlThe pressure of maintaining #1 status is really heavy on Lindsay. She has sleepless nights worrying about it. Dear hubby Jon sensed she's stressed and told her "Even you rank around 500, I still love you but I think you're pretty good right now". But since Jon was never #1, he could not understand the stress that Lindsay has. When you're #1, even slip 1 ranking is a BIG deal. Poor Lindsay
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Post by Lee on Jan 10, 2005 13:40:41 GMT -5
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Post by Lee on Jan 18, 2005 11:29:36 GMT -5
Lindsay 1,0 vs C. Martinez
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Mar 23, 2005 19:18:09 GMT -5
Bump. A CHAMPION deserves RESPECT.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Apr 8, 2005 13:57:33 GMT -5
Amelia Island QF: (1) Lindsay DAVENPORT (USA) def. (5) Venus WILLIAMS (USA) 1-6 6-3 6-4. ;D
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Apr 10, 2005 8:59:52 GMT -5
Amelia Island SF: (1) Davenport def. (7) Petrova 6-0 6-3. Faces Farina Elia in final.
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Post by Lee on Apr 11, 2005 14:53:53 GMT -5
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Post by janie on Apr 15, 2005 20:07:32 GMT -5
It was sad to see poor Lindsay playing in obvious pain, then retiring, today, even though I was rooting for Justine, who needs to get her ranking back up. The good news is that Linsday reckons she should be better in a week or so, based on past experience. So that was a relief to read. And she's got a long stretch of time off to re-charge her batteries. Come back strong, Linds!
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Apr 20, 2005 17:16:41 GMT -5
Lindsay needs to do something about this injury. The knee injury I understand. That's just bad luck when that acts up. But this hip strain that she keeps getting is preventable. She needs new techniques.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Apr 24, 2005 21:30:16 GMT -5
Davenport def. Vanhyfte 6-0 6-2 Davenport def. Callens 6-4 6-0 Davenport/Morariu def. Flipkens/Vanhyfte 6-1 6-2 ;D
Lindsay Davenport. Fed Cup HEROINE.
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Post by Lee on May 26, 2005 1:05:48 GMT -5
Dear Lindsay, you really have tons of confidence in Roland Garros from yahoo
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Post by janie on May 26, 2005 6:09:55 GMT -5
She hasn't looked very convincing out there yet, has she? I still hope she can raise her game a notch and keep going for a while.
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Post by janie on May 27, 2005 7:09:56 GMT -5
LOL!! Again Lindsay struggles, again she advances on an opponent's choke! Oh well, she's still in in, that's what counts. I think she'll be exiting quite soon, though.
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Post by janie on May 29, 2005 6:04:23 GMT -5
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Post by vaiva on May 29, 2005 9:44:22 GMT -5
Yay, Lindsay. So far, her run has been unbelievable. Plays one shit set and then finds her game. On clay. That's the spirit
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Post by Lee on May 29, 2005 12:16:47 GMT -5
It's unbelievable that my 6th sense returned. I had the feeling that Lindsay would finally have a win over Kim and
YES!!!!!!!!
My 6th sense has abandoned me for almost 2 years, that's why I didn't trust it this time.
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