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."