The Lindsay Leach Comeback Thread

[Pamela Shriver]

Lindsay will be making a brave return to the WTA Tour after a maternity leave. She gave birth to her first son, Jagger, in June.

Her schedule is as follows:

New Haven - Doubles w/ Raymond

Bali - Singles

Beijing - Singles

Cheer.

[Pamela Shriver]

She's back, baby!

Don't question Davenport's comeback -- just enjoy it



Lindsay Davenport accepted Lisa Raymond's invitation to play doubles at the Pilot Pen Tennis event in Connecticut, starting Aug. 17.


When my doubles partner, Sam Stosur, told me a few months ago that she preferred not to play in New Haven, Conn., this year, I started looking for someone else. After all, I love participating in the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament.

The list of potential replacements was short and sweet. I picked up my BlackBerry and sent a text to an old friend and former partner to see if she would be interested in coming out of what we all thought was retirement to bang a few balls around and have some fun.

Little did we know that rather than talking about Lindsay Davenport's "retirement," we should have been talking about her "extended maternity leave," as that's exactly what she was doing.

Davenport and I have been friends for a long time. We both turned pro in 1993; I came onto the WTA Tour after two years of college tennis at Florida, while she came through the more traditional junior ranks.

We played some of our first Tour doubles events together, having some success but even more laughs along the way. Our careers and lives have taken different paths, yet our friendship has endured.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got a text back in short order from Lindsay, agreeing to play in New Haven. She took a few hours to think about it, talk it over with her husband, Jon, and decided she was game. The decision to play was largely driven by the desire to get back on the court, have some fun and give the crowd something to cheer.

We asked for a wild card into the draw (the event begins Aug. 17), and tournament director Anne Worcester and her crew at the Pilot Pen were more than happy to oblige. As it turns out, it looks like Lindsay's return at New Haven is something of a springboard for her to get back into the game of professional tennis. It was recently announced that she will play singles again, beginning in September in Bali, Indonesia.

Since the news broke, there have been numerous articles and much talk about why she is making the comeback. Why would Lindsay Davenport, after having accomplished so much in her successful career, come back to play after just giving birth 10 weeks ago to her adorable son, Jagger? Why play tennis again? Why not just enjoy being a mom?

My only question is, why not? Let's not forget, Lindsay never said she was retiring. Never once did she say it was her last Australian Open, or that she would be quitting after the birth of her first child. No swan song, no farewell match or tour, nada. Everyone just assumed. Wrong assumption, folks.

Davenport has said that her motivation comes from the challenge itself, to see if she can do it again. She wants to test herself to see if she can get back into fighting shape, compete with the best and win on the big-stage again. The Olympics are another reason. While she already has an Olympic medal, she wants to play in both singles and doubles in Beijing in '08. I know one person who is excited about the possibility of that!

Maybe there is part of her that sees the recent success of Serena Williams Down Under and Venus at Wimbledon, and that makes that fire inside of her burn just a little hotter. Whatever the case, the bottom line is that it is Lindsay's decision.

We are so quick to judge and question why. Does it matter if it's because she missed the high you get when you win a title or walk into a packed stadium like center court in Flushing Meadows? Hasn't she earned the right?

The tennis world should welcome back Lindsay with open arms, especially here in the U.S. We have the Williams sisters, who have produced incredible results in '07, but the list starts and ends with them. To have Davenport back playing for our country in both Fed Cup and the Olympics would be something all Americans should cheer about and want to see.

The women's game has a slew of new exciting faces tearing up the rankings, but it seems there is something missing when you look at the names on top of the rankings. Outside of the Williamses, there are no other Americans in the top 35. It would be great to have someone back who is not only a leader, but someone who is intelligent, articulate and personable.

I'm looking forward to taking the court with my friend in a couple of weeks and having some fun. If we do well, that would just be an added bonus. It will be a bit surreal to look over at our player box and see a new set of eyes watching "mom."

Whatever happens in Connecticut, I know that given the right amount of time, Lindsay will be right back in the thick of it. It may take a few months, but once she hits her stride again, look out. It won't be long before her name is back etched on trophies and in the record books.

Any tennis fan, including this one, should be excited about that possibility.

Half of the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the world, Lisa Raymond writes for SI.com on alternate Fridays.

[sasha]

Should be. Could be.

But, not.

[sasha]

Andy, are you going to watch all your suckass favorite's matches at Yale.

[Pamela Shriver]

Yes. I'll be in Hotlanta this weekend, so I'll miss qualies. But I'll be there from Monday night on.

[:rolleyes:]

Isn't Lisa a bitch?

[Pamela Shriver]

I always thought Stubbs was the bitchy one of that pair.

[sasha]

Yeah, Rennae definitely has the bigger mouth of the two.

[janie]

Davenport wins easily in comeback

By Barry Wood


BALI (Reuters) - Lindsay Davenport swept to a 6-2 6-2 victory over Eleni Daniilidou at the Bali Classic on Tuesday, looking as if she had never been away.

The 31-year-old American, who was playing her first singles match in almost a year after giving birth to a son in June, took just three games to get into her stride.

From 1-2 she claimed an astonishing 20 consecutive points to take the opening set.

A break to love put her 2-1 up in the second and a forehand error from her fifth-seeded Greek opponent gave Davenport a decisive 4-1 lead. The American then closed out the match with her ninth ace.

"You never really know what to expect after a year off and especially having a baby, so to come out and play the way I did is so exciting and it means a lot to me," a delighted Davenport told reporters.

Daniilidou had reached the semi-finals in New Haven immediately before the U.S. Open and she showed her class with some strong backhands and by fighting back from 0-40 to take the opening game.

Once Davenport found her stride Daniilidou's challenge crumbled, however, and the American produced some fine returns and punishing serves.

"It was a challenge out there for me after not playing for so long," said Davenport. "I was trying to focus a lot and to be real concentrated and I'm really happy I won. It did exceed my expectations."

Davenport believes that staying in shape during her pregnancy has played a big part in her being ready to compete again so soon.

"I was completely mentally retired," she said. "The day I found out I was pregnant I was, 'Oh well, tennis is done', and it really wasn't until March or April I started to think about it. For months and months I thought I was done.

"But I made a very conscious decision to be really healthy for my son and I read a lot of books about nutrition and exercised during pregnancy. So I stayed in shape but not for the purpose of coming back. I think that really helped me rebound so quickly.

"I'm still a little ways. It's only been three months and I still have a bit of weight to lose, I still need to work on my movement around the court. I haven't had that much time to focus on that aspect of it. At the beginning I was really working on my timing. But I think in four to six months that'll come back hopefully."

Third seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland shrugged off a stomach complaint to defeat China's Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-2 while German sixth seed Martina Muller laboured for one hour 44 minutes to beat Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus 6-3 6-3.

[Pamela Shriver]

Lindsay has advanced to the 2R in Quebec, defeating #7 seed Kerber 6-3 6-3.

[janie]

I wonder if she'll be affected by the WTA blog curse?

[Pamela Shriver]

She broke the curse!

And took the Quebec title in impressive fashion - serving 12 aces (including 4 straight in one game) to win the title.

Can't wait for 2008, Lindsay!

[R. Black]

She'll play Auckland and AO.

[janie]

Linds just leaped from #126 to #73 -- not bad!

[Pamela Shriver]

Lindsay's said that she's going to play the slams and Beijing for sure next year.

[sasha]

Lindsay's said that she's going to play the slams

WHYWHYWHY

God, I hate her so much.

Oh, and don't forget SoCal, Linds!!

[Pamela Shriver]

Why does this upset you.

This would be my prediction for her schedule next year:

Aukland - Confirmed
AO - Confirmed
Dubai - they usually pay her enough
Indian Wells - Socal, so obviously
Miami - Maybe, now that it's mandatory. But I wouldn't be surprised to blow him off.
Amelia Island - She likes the green clay, and loves this tournament
Charleston - She could skip this, especially if she wants to play less
Roland Garros - Only big one she might skip
Wimbledon
Stanford - Socal
Carson - Ditto.
Olympics
New Haven - Seems to like it, said she'd come back
US Open

I'm not sure if she'll play after that. If she's got a shot at the YEC, I think she might go for it.

[sasha]

It upsets me because Lindsay is a failure. And we do not wish to relive prior days. I do not forgive easily, unless it's the other giant failure. If we never play Wimbledon again, there's a start.

Schedule:
Miami, no way. Still at war with the WTA.
Charleston, I doubt.
If she qualifies for the Olympics, it would be crazy to play New Haven.

Add Bali (vacation spot with Leach and Jagger!).
Tokyo Indoor too, since we always win it. Easy points. Assuming the Japs give a WC, which I think they would.

[Pamela Shriver]

Tokyo is moved to the fall next year. She won't need a WC.

I forgot to add Fed Cup in there. She has to play that if she wants to play the Olympics, and she's already talked about playing.

Lindsay and Elena have both won Quebec and New Haven. They're both giants. They're so alike.

[Pamela Shriver]

Davenport cautious on Open prospects

November 13, 2007 - 4:14PM

Former tennis No.1 Lindsay Davenport admits she's surprised by her comeback form but isn't sure if it's realistic to think she can win another Australian Open in January.

The winner of three Grand Slam titles, Davenport returned to the WTA Tour in August, two month after the birth of her first child, son Jagger.

Since then, the American has won two of the three singles events she has entered, at Bali and Quebec, and reached the semifinals of the other, at Beijing.

Along the way, she has beaten three top-10 opponents.

Davenport, speaking from California, said she had no idea why her recent results had been so impressive.

"It's all gone way better than I imagined it would, but it's just a joy to play again," she said.

"Obviously my life is more fulfilled now."

Davenport, 31, has won 53 singles events during a 15-year career, including the 1998 US Open, 1999 Wimbledon and 2000 Australian Open.

She will start her build up to the 2008 Australian Open at the WTA event in Auckland from December 31-January 5 but said she was unlikely to play a full schedule next year.

While she was excited at the prospect of being involved in Grand Slam tennis again, she didn't know whether claiming another major title was a possibility.

"I don't know if winning a Grand Slam is a realistic goal any more, but obviously I've done very well so far.

"I know I can get back to some point at the top of the game and time will tell how high that is."

[sasha]

"I don't know if winning a Grand Slam is a realistic goal any more, but obviously I've done very well so far.

Lolz.

"I know I can get back to some point at the top of the game and time will tell how high that is."

You never thought you were at the top of game. Penis and Reenus and Maria too good. Quits.

[Denise49IQ]

She's starting to piss me off already.

After her 40 minute loss to Justine Down Under, I'll probably start hating again. Until then, Gooooooo! Mamma D!

[sasha]

If she plays Justine, there will be at least 1 close set. Then, laughs when Justine starts to win. I'd prefer her losing to Pee or Ree, though. Those are funnier because Lindsay always talks like a complete loser after choking to them.

Lindsay shouldn't assume she's making the Olympic team. It will likely be top 4 USians for singles. With Liezel Huber's lame patriot act, they won't deny her and Raymond for doubles, I assume. Still some ground to pass Meilen and Meghannn. The deadline is after Roland Garros, so Lindsay might be forced to play those icky Euro clay events where it's so like below 70 degrees and damages our Queen.

[Pamela Shriver]

Lindsay might actually win a set from Justine. Their matches are all really competitive, for a while.

I believe Lindsay said she wanted to play both singles and doubles in the Olympics. It will be very interesting to see how that plays out. You've got to think either Ree or Pee will be injured, so that opens up a spot.

[Denise49IQ]

sasha said:

If she plays Justine, there will be at least 1 close set. Then, laughs when Justine starts to win. I'd prefer her losing to Pee or Ree, though. Those are funnier because Lindsay always talks like a complete loser after choking to them.

Lindsay shouldn't assume she's making the Olympic team. It will likely be top 4 USians for singles. With Liezel Huber's lame patriot act, they won't deny her and Raymond for doubles, I assume. Still some ground to pass Meilen and Meghannn. The deadline is after Roland Garros, so Lindsay might be forced to play those icky Euro clay events where it's so like below 70 degrees and damages our Queen.

I'm sorry?

But lolz, Lindsay Jagger & Leach hittin' up the red stuff should be fun.

[Pamela Shriver]

Lindsay's schedule is starting to firm up for the start of next year. Right now, it looks like this:

Aukland
AO
Memphis
Indian Wells

I wonder if the WTA will make her play Miami?

[sasha]

I refer to players as "we" and "our" if I hate them, like E. Bovina.

Miami is required for everyone, so it's up to her. Lindsay is in a spot where she doesn't have to give a damn what the WTA thinks, so whatever.

[Denise49IQ]

Oh, I thought it was the total opposite.

That's an OK schedule I guess.

[sasha]

Also, it's AUCKLAND.

[Pamela Shriver]

sasha said:

I refer to players as "we" and "our" if I hate them, like E. Bovina.

Miami is required for everyone, so it's up to her. Lindsay is in a spot where she doesn't have to give a damn what the WTA thinks, so whatever.

I guess. But she cares about fines, so who knows?