Davenport wins Bali tennis title
Davenport wins Bali tennis title
Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Top seeded Lindsay Davenport staved off a second set fightback
from indomitable Italian Francesca Schiavone for a 6-2, 6-4
victory in the final of the US$225,000 Wismilak International
hard court tennis tournament here on Sunday.
The American world number two made a sizzling start, blasting
groundstrokes within centimeters of the baseline and pouncing on
the fourth seed's midcourt floaters to hit winners or put away
the volley. She broke Schiavone in the opening game and kept up
the pressure on her opponent's serve, holding three break points
at 3-1. Although she failed to convert on them, she broke again
at 4-2.
Davenport has relied on her serve during the week yet had
uncharacteristic problems in the final, including two double
faults in her opening service game. But with the added zip of new
balls, the 1.89 meter tall American served out the set.
"I didn't serve as well as I can serve," said the 29-year-old
Californian, who did not lose a set in four matches in Bali. "But
I had the safety of the second serve, and she doesn't pound her
second serve returns."
The American broke and then held her serve for 2-0, but even
with this comfortable lead Davenport must have been wary. She
said on Saturday that Schiavone's trait was her fighting spirit;
it had been on full display in her gritty semifinal against
second seed Patty Schnyder, when she kept the second set alive
until the hot and bothered Swiss retired.
The 25-year-old Italian began her fightback with a love
service game, reaching game point with a stunning topspin lob
that left Davenport stranded at the net and closing it out with
an ace. As hot as she had been in the first set, Davenport,
meanwhile, went off the boil, playing an erratic game that
included an ace, followed by a swinging forehand volley that
landed way out.
She came in on a short ball but it clipped the netcord and sat
up for Schiavone to hit a passing shot winner. Davenport saved
one break point but on the second she misfired a backhand into
the tramline for 2-2.
Schiavone, whose colorful antics made her a firm favorite with
local fans during the weeklong tournament, delighted the more
than 2,500 spectators by saving a break point in the next game to
hold -- the first time she was ahead in the match.
Games went on serve until 4-4, when Davenport broke, prompting
a frustrated Schiavone to smack a ball out of the stadium.
But there was still some fight in her. She shrugged off an ace
from her opponent to reach break point, only to net a backhand
service return. Davenport was not about to let her get another
opportunity, taking the title and $35,000 when the Italian's
backhand overshot the baseline.
"Her shots were harder and deeper in the second set,"
Davenport said of the scare. "But overall I got it all together
at the end."
Schiavone, who won $19,000 and was the first player in the
tournament to take more than three games off Davenport in a set,
was gracious in defeat.
"She played very good, but maybe next time I can do more to
win the big points."