Match Reports
Davenport Strides Past Safina
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Listen carefully. What's that sound? Can't hear anything? Exactly. What you
are hearing is the quiet progress of Lindsay Davenport through the women's
draw. On Saturday, with typical lack of fuss, the unheralded No.1 seed made
short work of Dinara Safina, eclipsing the Russian 6-2, 6-1 for a place in
the last 16. It brought the total number of games the American has conceded
in three matches so far this Wimbledon to a miserly eight.
Despite the unseasonal chill in the air on No.2 Court, there was never any
danger of Davenport being buried at the so-called graveyard of champions. The
29-year-old American may not have played competitively between her
quarter-final defeat to Mary Pierce at Roland Garros and her arrival in SW19,
but let no one doubt she is back in the groove of grasscourt excellence.
Safina began confidently, but at 2-2 she had one of those service games where
suddenly she seemed to crumble, and Davenport had three break points. A poor
return saved the first, but a pinpoint backhand down the line sealed it for
the American. Pumping away from the baseline, Safina made Davenport work to
clinch the set, but clinch it she did in half an hour.
What is it about Davenport which makes her the player they are not all
talking about? Why do so many simply fail to mention the 1999 champion as a
threat this Wimbledon? What prompted bookmakers to price her at just 12-1 to
lift the Venus Rosewater Dish for the second time? It is as if her place at
the top of the rankings was something she acquired by accident.
Yet the facts do not tally with this fantasy version of events. Despite Maria
Sharapova's best efforts to unseat her, Davenport about to embark on her 75th
week at the world's pre-eminent player, her current stint on the throne
having started last October.
Of course, it is five years since she won her last Slam title, at the
Australian Open, and it was in Melbourne this year that she won through to
her first major final since that victory, ultimately losing to Serena
Williams. But if it's consistency you're after, then Davenport's your woman.
She ended last year at the top of the tree by making at least the semi-finals
in 13 out of 17 tournaments, winning seven. This year she has won titles in
Dubai and at Amelia Island, making the finals at Tokyo and Indian Wells too.
Today she simply wore down 19-year-old Safina, whose frequent exclamations of
frustration sounded as if they might make colourful listening for any Russian
speakers at courtside. At 1-1 in the second her service crumbled again, and
she was helpless to stop the rot.
It must be Safina's greatest hope that one day her achievements will see
Marat Safin referred to as her brother. For now she is remains Marat's
sister, although she is making progress. This was her best Wimbledon, having
lost twice in the first round previously. Two years ago she made the fourth
round at Flushing Meadow.
Safina will be disappointed not to have made more of a match of it against
Davenport. But she may take some comfort from the fact that, on current form,
it will take an excellent performance to test Davenport this Wimbledon.
Written by Kate Battersby
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※ 編輯: millions 來自: 61.231.72.66 (06/26 15:32)